Get a sneak peek of Princess Catherine and Prince Harry’s first meeting from #TheSpanishPrincess premiere right here! Watch the Series Premiere Sunday on the #STARZ App.
— The Spanish Princess (@SpanishPrincess) May 3, 2019
Nothing like meeting your future husband before his brother’s wedding, which also happens to be your wedding as well. One of history’s most interesting meet-cutes takes place in this clip from The Spanish Princess, premiering on Starz this Sunday.
Now that we are living in a post-Endgame would, it’s time for me to start following my true passion: period dramas. Starz has been the hope for historical period dramas for quite a while, through their adaptations of the novels by Philippa Gregory, which is certainly a choice. On Sunday they will be airing the first episode of their new series based on Gregory’s The Spanish Princess, set to focus on the early years of Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII.
In the above clip, we see the young Infanta being introduced to Prince Henry, Duke of York, who goes by Harry, and an already horny Charles Brandon by his side looking for wife number one of four.
Now just to put on my armchair historian glasses and polo for a moment, the first thing that stood out to me was how they have messed with the ages of the characters. Katherine came to England to marry Arthur, Henry’s older brother and heir to the throne at the time, in 1501. She was born in 1485 and would have been sixteen at the time. Henry VIII would have been ten years old because he was born in 1491. Charles Brandon would definitely not be hanging out with him, because Brandon was only one year older than Katherine. Also, there is a slight chance he was already married at this point, or working on it, with Margaret Neville. But you know, if you want Charles Brandon to make sex eyes at Ramsey Bolton’s ex that’s fine too.
I get it, we don’t want to show Katherine thirsting over a ten-year-old, but considering the age difference between them would end up being an issue later in life, it’ll be interesting to see how they handle it since they look so much closer in age now. Nothing like meeting your future husband the day before your first wedding. Classic monarchy.
I just want to say that Charlotte Hope looks so much like a young Annette Crosbie (my favorite on-screen Katherine of Aragon) that I’m honestly just excited to see her and what she does next. Whatever you may think of the historical accuracy of the series, it has showcased a lot of amazing female talent over the years, with Rebecca Ferguson in The White Queen, and Killing Eve‘s Jodie Comer, who was in The White Princess. Not to mention the series is attempting to add some diversity and not caring who complains about it.
Looking forward to seeing how the show lives up to telling Katherine’s story and how it writes the characters of color who will be supporting roles in the show.
Also, I shall continue to spell Katherine with a K because I’m pretentious.
(image: Starz)
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