The Spanish Princess is a historical drama television limited series developed by Emma Frost and Matthew Graham for Starz.
It centres around Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope), the eponymous Spanish princess who became Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII (Ruairi O'Connor).
Unwelcomed by some, she and her diverse court, including her lady-in-waiting Lina, who is of Moorish ancestry, struggle to adapt to English customs.
Catherine is horrified to learn that Arthur's younger brother, the arrogant Henry, Duke of York, is the author of the romantic correspondence she has received.
When Arthur dies suddenly, her destiny as the one who will bring peace between Spain and England seems in doubt, until she sets her sights on Prince Henry.
Catherine's father Ferdinand and his son, the future Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, come to England to make an alliance against France.
Henry VIII's sister Mary Tudor speaks Spanish and expresses her desire to wed Charles I. Edward Stafford is injured in a joust, losing his right eye.
Meg attempts to keep the peace in Scotland but an invasion is insisted upon by the warring clans and supported by her arrogant husband, King James IV.
A pregnant Catherine is left to rally troops and defend England from the Scottish forces of King James IV at the Battle of Flodden (1513).
Thomas Wolsey proposes matching Henry VIII's sister Mary with Louis XII of the House of Valois.
Catherine continues to struggle caring for her newborn daughter, Mary, due to her not being the male heir she promised King Harry.
Meg returns to Scotland to reclaim her crown and children but has to make peace with the new regent, John Stewart, the Duke of Albany.
After taking advice from her old lady Rosa, Catherine begins bonding more with her daughter and is determined to educate her for her role as future Queen of England.
Catherine in turn lends support to Angus by implying Meg is lovers with the Duke of Albany and thus immorally motivated to end her marriage.
Being both Roman Catholics, Catherine suggests she and Cardinal Wolsey set aside their differences and join forces to stop the Protestant heretics.
"[19] Part two would be broadcast in 2020, with stars Charlotte Hope and Ruairi O'Connor returning to the show as Catherine and Henry,[20] "along with other key cast.
"[21] It was confirmed on June 9, 2019, by showrunner Emma Frost, that both Georgie Henley and Olly Rix, who portray Meg Tudor and Edward Stafford, would return for the next eight episodes and that Meg's role would be "huge in the back eight" and that "we are totally with her story, we're up in Scotland, we're sort of Spanish Princess meets Outlander" and that Stafford would get some "redemption.
"[24] Alongside the directing announcement, it was confirmed that Charlotte Hope, Stephanie Levi-John, Angus Imrie, Harriet Walter, Laura Carmichael, Ruairi O'Connor, Georgie Henley, Elliot Cowan, Alexandra Moen, Philip Cumbus, Nadia Parkes, Aaron Cobham, Alan McKenna, Richard Pepper, Olly Rix, Jordan Renzo, Daniel Cerqueira, and Alicia Borrachero had been cast in the series.
The website's critical consensus reads, "The Spanish Princess blends soapy melodrama with beautifully rendered historical set-pieces to paint a rounder — if still not fully realized — portrait of an often overlooked queen.
[33] In Spain, the series caused curiosity upon release, but later received a combination of hard criticisms and tired indifference.