The Spanish Princess (2019–2020) – A Crown Promised, A Queen Forged in Fire

Promises were broken, alliances tested, but her fire never dimmed

The Spanish Princess (2019–2020) is a vivid and emotionally charged historical drama that reclaims the voice of one of England’s most misunderstood royals: Catherine of Aragon. Adapted from Philippa Gregory’s bestselling novels The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse, this STARZ limited series brings to life the passionate, intelligent, and resilient woman who would become the first wife of King Henry VIII—but on her own terms, not history’s.

The story begins with a teenage Catherine (played by Charlotte Hope) arriving in England from Spain, destined to marry Prince Arthur, the heir to the Tudor throne. But when Arthur dies soon after their wedding, Catherine finds herself in a dangerous and uncertain position—clinging to her royal purpose in a court that increasingly sees her as expendable. With cunning diplomacy, unyielding belief in her destiny, and a fierce love for England, Catherine sets her sights on Henry, Arthur’s younger brother, and the throne itself.

Charlotte Hope delivers a commanding performance as Catherine, balancing regal poise with flashes of vulnerability and fire. This is no meek, pious princess—she’s strategic, passionate, and deeply political. The show tracks her evolution from foreign bride to queen consort, painting her not just as a woman defined by her marriage, but as a leader fighting for recognition in a man's world.

Visually, The Spanish Princess is a feast of rich costuming, candlelit courts, and Renaissance grandeur, but it never loses sight of the grit beneath the glamour. The series tackles themes often overlooked in royal dramas: xenophobia, female agency, fertility politics, and the immense personal cost of ambition. As the pressure to produce a male heir mounts, Catherine’s position becomes both more powerful and more precarious—mirroring the crown she wears: beautiful, but heavy.

Unlike many period dramas, this series places women firmly at the center—not only Catherine, but also Margaret Beaufort, Margaret Tudor, and Queen Elizabeth of York—all navigating their own political mazes. It’s not just about thrones and treaties—it’s about the quiet power of queens, mothers, and survivors.

The Spanish Princess doesn’t rewrite history—it reframes it through the eyes of a woman who helped shape it, and whose strength echoes far beyond the Tudor court.