Lost Children of Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon gave birth to a good deal of children during her marriage to Henry VIII but only Mary I would survive - something that would eventually lead to Catherine's dethronement. But how many children did Catherine give birth to? Where there really no boys among them?

The answer to the last question is a definite "no" - Catherine gave birth to a number of sons but sadly none of them survived their infancy. These were the children of Catherine:

• Catherine gave birth to a stillborn daughter on January 31 1510 - the girl died the same day
• The son Henry wanted was born on January 1 1511 and was immediately named Henry and made Duke of Cornwall - he died on February 23 that same year
• Another son was born in October/November 1513 but he died before he was named 
• Henry, (another) Duke of Cornwell was born in 1514 in December but died within the month
• Catherine finally gave birth to a child that would survive but the child was a girl: Mary. She was born on February 18 1516
• Catherine's last child was a stillborn girl born on November 10 1518 

As the years show, Catherine was pregnant almost constantly from 1510-1518. After this period she did not conceive again and as nature has it, she eventually entered menopause. How unfair and painful it must have been for Catherine to listen to Henry and his councillors complaining that she never was able to produce an heir, while she had not only been through labour pains but the pain of losing the child as well - several times. 

Catherine the Queen

"The Lady Katherine is a proud, stubborn woman of very high courage. If she took it into her head to take her daughter's part, she could quite easily take the field, muster a great array, and wage against me a war as fierce as any her mother Isabella ever waged in Spain." 

This is what Henry VIII himself said about Catherine of Aragon. It is strange that he still chose to go up against her in the matter of their marriage's trial - he must have known that Catherine would never leave the title, she felt belonged to her by right.

Catherine of Aragon's Ghost

The ghost of Catherine of Aragon is said to be haunting Kimbolton Castle where she spent the last years of her life. After Catherine of Aragon had been divorced from Henry VIII she was sent to Kimbolton Castle where she would eventually die - abandoned and forbidden to see her daughter.
Catherine's ghost has been seen wandering the halls of the Queen's chambers. Apparently, her ghost is not aware of the changing in the building's levelling because she is seen walking with her legs and lower body half descended from the ceiling and her head and upper body appearing on the floor above.

Kimbolton Castle 

Catherine of Aragon's Pomegranate

Catherine of Aragon used this badge during her time as Queen of England. The pomegranate with its peak to the seeds symbolizes fertility and abundance. Besides, the pomegranate was an exotic fruit and also represented Catherine's Spanish heritage.
The pomegranate is crowned which symbolises sovereignty and was the ultimate power symbol.