8th August 2016
I love this portrait of Margaret Tudor and James IV of Scotland, who were married in Edinburgh today in 1503. A century later in 1603, their great-grandson James VI inherited the English crown, becoming James I of England and uniting Britain's monarchies. The image dates from around then – the couple are symbolically identified with Henry VII's English arms on Margaret's skirt and James' cilice (for penance) around his waist. The young Margaret, expecting her brother the future Henry VIII to produce sons and grandsons, could not have anticipated the huge influence of her marriage on British history – though she might have hoped. This quote is from my novel Three Sisters, Three Queens, out tomorrow:
Down the stone stairs, into the bright sunshine I glide to where the great door of the neighbouring abbey is thrown open for me, and then into the abbey, which is crowded with lords and their ladies dressed in their robes, the air scented with incense, and ringing with the music of the choir. I remember walking up the aisle towards James at the top, and the blaze of gold from the reliquaries on the altar and the heat from the thousands of candles and the high vaulting of the ceiling. I remember the magnificent stone window over the altar, storeys high, blazing with colour from the stained glass – and then... I don’t remember another thing.
I think it is as grand as Arthur’s wedding. It’s not St Paul’s, of course, but I wear a gown as good as Katherine’s was on that day. The king at my side is a blaze of jewels, and he is a full king whereas Katherine married only a prince. And I am crowned.
Image: National Library of Scotland, MS, Seaton Armorial, Acc. 9309, f. 18, early 17th century; via The National Archives