The Spanish Princess

Like the other Starz shows, The White Princess & The White Queen, this production is lavish and high in value. It is undoubtedly cleaner than the real 16th Century world but has the feeling of authenticity about it.

There are some horrendous historical liberties taken by the producers. Arthur & Catherine were 15 when they married. Arthur died before his 16th birthday. Henry was 10, going on 11, over the 6 months of Catherine's marriage. Given most of the series is about Henry & Catherine's relationship the producers saw fit to make Henry & Arthur a similar age, maybe 18 & 19, respectively. Fair enough, but it does ensure a divergence from the historical facts, which is a pity.

The other and maybe more relevant fact is why Catherine was chosen to be the wife of the English heir male. She was descended from the legitimate English Lancastrian line via her mother. She had a stronger claim to the English throne than Henry VII, who was descended from an illigitimate Lancastrian line. The male offspring of Catherine would legitimise the Tudor dynasty. For this reason Henry VII, his wife & his mother would be moving heaven & earth to keep Catherine in England. Indeed, she became a virtual prisoner of the English crown for 7 years before she married her brother in law, the young Henry.

Overall, the historical costume drama is enjoyable enough and given it's only 10 episodes makes it easy enough to watch.