As a result of equal parts procrastination and feeling ill, I spent the majority of yesterday watching documentaries about the Tudors. After staring at various paintings of Henry VIII in said films, I feel the need to address something that I first strongly believed after reading the well-researched (and entirely plausible) historical fiction novel Cor Rotto by Adrienne Dillard (see my review here), but even more so given some of the stories that have been in the media this week regarding Henry, Duke of Sussex (a.k.a. Harry) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
I strongly, wholeheartedly, believe that Henry VIII fathered Catherine Carey, and is the great-some-odd-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II, and thus (plus two generations) also Harry.
When I look at portraits of Henry Tudor and compare them to virtually any image of Harry, the resemblance is striking – much like that between Catherine Carey and Elizabeth Tudor (QEI). Of course, DNA testing has never been done and we may never know if Catherine Carey was the daughter of King Henry VIII or Will Carey, husband of Mary Boleyn. We know that Mary was Henry’s mistress at the time Catherine was conceived, but she was also married to Will. We know that Henry and Elizabeth both seemed to favor Catherine above the other ladies of the Tudor Court, and it’s been suggested by historians, authors, and researchers alike, such as Adrienne Dillard (see my interview with her here), that at least Elizabeth suspected she was more than merely a Boleyn relation.
Considering the well-researched depictions of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Anne and Mary Boleyn, Catherine Carey, and Elizabeth I that I’ve read, I can’t help but think they would all be overjoyed to know that their line was, somehow, still on the throne today. I like to think that Henry VII would be happy to know that his efforts throughout his turbulent life had world-changing effects. I think it would probably make Henry VIII squirm to know that through his (probable) illegitimate daughter, his blood still wears the Crown (and the image of him squirming about that makes me laugh). I pity Katherine of Aragon because it was her marriage bed that Mary Boleyn slipped into and it’s Mary’s great-granddaughter that is on the throne today, not Katherine’s (Katherine deserved better than she got, but more on that later).
More than anyone else, I choose to believe that Margaret Beaufort would be at peace to know that everything she did from such a young age (probably) ultimately benefitted her family.
Of course, that’s all based on pure speculation, and I won’t pretend to be the most well-researched Tudorphile out there.
In regard to fact, however, I like to think that Mary Boleyn, would be proud that someone, undoubtedly, of her line is on the throne and that perhaps she has finally achieved her father’s approval.
The Pensive Bookworm 