The Forgotten Princesses

When it comes to the Tudors, it’s rare to see Margaret and Mary Tudor discussed in their own right. Born in 1489 and 1496 respectively, they were the surviving daughters of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. The sisters were born into the newly established Tudor dynasty, and it was their father’s mission to ensure the dynasty’s stability domestically and internationally. As royal princesses, the sisters were destined for diplomatic marriages that would secure crucial foreign alliances.

Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots

In January 1502, Henry VII and King James IV of Scotland signed the Treaty of Perpetual Peace and it was agreed that James would marry Margaret, who was 16 years younger than him. She was 13 years old when they married by proxy in January 1503, only a month before her mother Elizabeth died. In June, Margaret set off for her new life in Scotland in a lavish procession, with her father accompanying her for the first part of the journey north.

On 1 August, she crossed the border into Scotland, and a week later a formal wedding ceremony was held at the Holyrood Abbey. The couple wore white damask outfits and Margaret’s gown was trimmed with crimson velvet. Afterwards, there was a short coronation ceremony and James was affectionate towards his young wife, holding her waist