The Lost Prince: Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s Forgotten Son.

Many remember Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon for their failed marriage and the bitter annulment that followed. Henry’s great obsession was the need for a son, an heir who would secure the future of the Tudor crown. What is less well remembered is that the couple did have children besides their daughter Mary, children whose brief lives are often lost to history.

Pregnancy in the early 16th century was fraught with danger, and Catherine struggled from the very beginning. In January 1510 she sadly suffered a miscarriage, but within a year hope had returned. On New Year’s Day 1511, she gave birth at Richmond Palace to a healthy boy, Henry, Duke of Cornwall. At last, the longed for heir had arrived, and for a short moment, the dynasty seemed secure.

The little prince was christened on the 5th of January in a ceremony of immense splendour. Great lords and ladies attended, and his godfather, King Louis XII of France, sent lavish gifts of gold plate. His godmother, Margaret of Austria, was represented by proxy, and the boy was formally acknowledged as Duke of Cornwall and heir to the throne.

To celebrate, Henry VIII staged one of the most magnificent tournaments of his reign at Westminster in February. The tiltyard near the Abbey came alive with pageantry, music, and colour. Knights rode under allegorical names, with the king himself jousting as “Coeur Loyall.” The event was so grand it was recorded on an illuminated vellum roll, which still survives as The Westminster Tournament Roll and is cared for at the Collega of Arms in London. For a brief moment, England rejoiced, confident that the succession was secure.

Yet the triumph was short-lived. On the 22nd of February 1511, just fifty-two days old, the infant prince died suddenly at Richmond Palace. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. His loss was a crushing blow to his parents, and the failure to produce another surviving son would haunt their marriage, a tragedy not only on a deeply personal level but one that ultimately altered the course of English history.

Image information:

Artist: Thomas Wriothesley

Title: Westminster Tournament Roll showing Henry VIII tilting in front of Katherine of Aragon in celebration of Henrys birth, courtesy College of Arms.

Date:1511

Collection: College of Arms