The Tudor Queen's Controversial Portrait: Analysis & Facial Reconstructions

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0:00 Introduction
0:57 What did Catherine of Aragon Look Like?
5:09 Review of Portraiture
8:29 Re-Creations Revealed
Catherine of Aragon is an iconic figure in English history. Catherine was the daughter of Spain’s famous Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, and the wife of two princes of England, including the infamous King Henry VIII.
But what did Catherine really look like? Movies and TV shows rarely portray Catherine correctly, plus, the most famous portrait of Catherine may not even be her. So, let’s dive in.
Catherine - or Catalina as she was called in her native Spain - was sent to England at just 15 years old to marry their crown prince, Arthur.
Any children the two could have would provide much needed stability for the English monarchy. Upon Catherine’s arrival in England, it was said that King Henry VII was relieved that Catherine was pretty and looked fit for childbearing - it was reported that he “was delighted with what he saw.”
In contrast to how fictional media portrays Catherine, as the typical Spaniard with dark hair and dark eyes, she was very fair, with red-gold hair, fair skin, and large blue eyes. Her hair and beautiful, smooth skin were one her most remarked-upon qualities throughout her life.
Sir Thomas More, who witnessed the marriage of Henry and Catherine in person, said Catherine wore a wide brimmed hat, with her waist-length hair flowing loose behind her. He also remarked that few women could compare with Catherine’s looks in her prime.
And her confessor, Fray Diego, said:
‘Her highness is very healthy and the most beautiful creature in the world, with the greatest gaiety and contentment that ever was.’
Unfortunately, this glorious beginning for Catherine and Henry didn’t last. Over the years, they suffered, with at least five of her six pregnancies ending in tragedy. The couple did have one living, healthy child - a daughter named Mary.
15 years in England, a crumbling marriage, and years of stressful and heartbreaking pregnancies, had understandably taken their toll on Catherine, and her youthful beauty had begun to fade.
By the time Catherine was 30, ambassador's began to describe her as "not handsome but very virtuous" with one even going as far as stating that she was “ugly, and deformed"
In 1520, The French King Francois, would say after meeting the royal couple, that King Henry, was "young and handsome" but cruelly added that his wife Catherine was "old and deformed"
However, it was said that even through these sleights, Catherine always carried herself with dignity. Although she was a small woman, standing at only 5 feet tall, she always commanded respect with her intelligence, and her low, authoritative voice.
She also dressed the part, popularizing a lot of fashion in England during her time as queen, including an embroidery style called blackwork, which was this beautiful, ornate stitching. And the farthingale, a cone shaped underskirt that gives tudor dresses their distinct shape.
So, while we have solid physical descriptions of Catherine to work from, there is more controversy around her portraits than you might expect.
The portraits that are attributed to being a young Catherine don’t really look anything like the portraits of her as an older woman, leading to quite a bit of confusion about what her true face really was.
One of the most famous depictions of a teenaged Catherine, is this one. It’s a beautiful painting, and lives in many of our imaginations when we think of the young Spanish Princess. I’ve based one of my re-creations off of this portrait, but it’s actually quite controversial.
The museum that displays this artwork actually labels her as Mary Rose Tudor - the sister of Henry VIII.
Unfortunately, we still have no verdict - there are arguments both for and against this image being Catherine.
The original identification of this image as Catherine was proposed by Max Friedlander in 1915. The artist for this portrait, Michael Sittow, was a Flemish painter who worked as the court painter for Catherine’s mother, Isabella of Castile.
It would therefore make sense that he would paint a teenaged Catherine before she left for England.
Friedlander assumed that it was the Spanish Infanta because of the K initials seen in her jewelry - Catherine can be spelled interchangeably with a C or a K.
But, in 2005, art historian Paul Matthews proposed the re identification as Mary Tudor. He proposed the painting was made later than originally thought - around 1515.
We do have some confirmed images of Catherine later in her life.
So let’s take a look at some re-creations.
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This video creation and final image are ©Royalty Now.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code ROYALTYNOW for an extra 3 months free at surfshark.deals/ROYALTYNOW You may also enjoy the full history video we made of Catherine a while back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWK0m4WDYruEp5o

[@mousemd]

I never connect her with her parents. You just made me think of the timeline. Of course, that's who her parents were. TY

[@mousemd]

TY for your analysis. I tend to agree with you

[@eddieamazon]

As a Spanish-American, it has always blown my mind that people think that every Spanish person has dark features. While I do (as do my mother and son and my mother's sisters and father), my abuela has blonde hair and green eyes, not to mention my angel of a daughter looks EXACTLY like your recreation of Catherine -- down to the long red/blonde hair and pale skin. I even sent her this video because so many people get confused when she says that she is Spanish. Thank you for this gem of a video - incredible work as always.

[@mariamunie0696]

My ancestors (some) were Spanish-from Europe. I have gray eyes and blonde hair. It’s on their side, as for my other ancestry is ‘native’. So you’re right. And yes, Queen Catherine was beautiful ❣️👍

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

It was Celt Iberia before the Romans conquered. Romans brought the darker complexion.

[@jaengen]

@@pauladuncanadams1750 The Moors as well.

[@gf3011]

​@@jaengenSorry, but why would you think Moors and Christians would have married each other back in the middle ages, when Christians of different sects wouldn't even marry each other??

[@eddieamazon]

@@gf3011 you're kidding, right? Just go read the history of Andalucia and the Spanish word for carrot.

[@TEMindset83702]

Very sad story. Katherine had everything. Powerful royal parents. She was a devoted wife and loving mother. Yet Henry VIII treated her with such cruelty because he blamed her for not bearing him sons.

[@Catmom-gl5nt]

She was the product of monsters. I find it hard to pity her or her estrangement from her daughter when her parents ethnically cleansed thousands. Im sure the Jews who lost everything, including their lives, loved their children too, it didn’t save them from the zealotry of Ferdinand and Isabella.

[@Jackie-eb2fr]

it is indeed sad and very unfair, she had so much potential, she was so intelligent

[@HK-gm8pe]

I domnt know Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were literally executed....Catherine wsnt the only one here and that portrait with red hair isnt her for sure...if it is anyone its Henrys sister

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

I've met blonde Spaniarrds form Spain. It's all politics I rhink to create these stereotypes.

[@saraharellano9399]

I don't think she's ugly or deformed at all. She's beautiful. I think you nailed it. 🎯

[@sebastianvargas7614]

Deformed wasn't meant in the same way it is today (i.e. disfigured). He was referring to her weight. Catherine became overweight in her later years according to some sources.

[@rolitiwari0909]

She was the most beautiful among all the wives of Henry VIII

[@murph8837]

And you know this how?

[@rolitiwari0909]

​@@murph8837by seeing the recreations of all his wives.. duh..

[@divineordergovernsmylife808]

@@rolitiwari0909you are crude dear

[@lfgifu296]

@@murph8837there are portraits of nearly all of them

[@princessoffire1107]

I think Henry was blessed in his obtaining pretty wives. I truly think AoC was as pretty or prettier than most. No one of any value said anything about her looks until H8 did after she behaved like a true maid and rebuked the unwanted advances of a masked, fat, grabby man. His not being able to perform was his doing, not hers.

[@margaritacamarillo8497]

Catherine has always been my favorite of Henry’s wives and I loved seeing these portraits brought to life.

[@candicesantiago727]

She was beautiful. Would you do a reconstruction of her daughter? Queen Mary? Maybe show her between Catherine and Henry ?

[@made-line7627]

I'd be very interested in seeing a reconstruction of Mary!

[@samariapenaloza6106]

Yeets! Ay' agree Queen Mary fur the win!

[@kathymcgrogan1315]

I think you are absolutely correct in your assertion. In the 15 year old recreation we can see why Henry VII would have been so pleased for his son to have her as his bride. I love watching the animation you give the recreations, especially the smiles, which always make my heart happy. While we know that so many of the royalty portrayed had tragic lives, it is wonderful to imagine them having a joyful moment. Well done!

[@serahloeffelroberts9901]

It's a little creepy that after his son died, the 47 year old Henry VII wanted to marry her himself. When her father said no, her father in law hardly gave her and her household any support for food and housing.

[@DulceN]

@@serahloeffelroberts9901I was going to mention the same thing, glad to see you already did.

[@kikidevine694]

​@@serahloeffelroberts9901he'd spent the dowry, so it was that or marry her to someone else. Henry, his son, was technically out of bounds. Also 15 was perfectly acceptable for an older man to marry, especially as he would want more sons to secure the succession of a usurping dynasty

[@shelleyj3704]

I love your theory; the older and younger portraits and recreations, to my eye, could absolutely be the same woman. I really enjoyed your deep dive into the art history and portrait mysteries. The Tudor history nerd in me is in heaven! And thanks so much for pointing out the inaccuracies in so many TV and movie portrayals of Catherine; why make her stereotypically "Spanish" with dark hair and eyes, when all the primary sources said she was fair? (Sorry for the rant, lol.)

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you!! And I totally agree - how hard is it just to make her hair color accurate? Maybe they thought audiences wouldn’t understand she was Spanish without dark hair?

[@monmothma3358]

I think in many cases it's simply a storytelling device, a "short cut" for signalling to the viewers that Catherine was Spanish and/or "foreign". With her actual looks she might look like a Tudor relative - the thing is, she _was_ a Tudor relative. Royal families were often more related to each other across borders than to the respective peoples they ruled, so yes, this practice is silly, and yes, it does annoy me too that she doesn't get her actual looks.

[@user-sm8vd1xz4j]

@@monmothma3358 Родственницей Тюдоров по какой линии? Она из династии Трастамара по матери, которая в свою очередь была дальней родственницей Ланкастеров по линии Джона Гонта

[@monmothma3358]

@@user-sm8vd1xz4j I'd love to know what you're saying here, but I have no way to :'(

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

It was Celt Iberia before the Romans conquered. They brought the dark complexion.

[@armandoandmariavivancos6393]

When i hear the life story of Catherine of Aragon i cant help but feel sad for her. Such a strong woman full of faith and integrity and had to suffer so much humiliation. Im sure she was beautiful when younger. But so much suffering with all the pressure to produce an male heir and feeling unloved. I read the beginning of her marriage to Henry VIII was happy. And then she is rejected like she had no value. No wonder she lost her youthful beauty. But im sure she was a woman that inspired respect and love from the one that really knew her!

[@IsisBarom]

I think we have to remember that those were different times and unfortunately such was the fate of women whatever place they had in society. That is they were married off to forge family alliances and for dowries. There were seldom 'love' marriages. Even after her divorce Catherine continued to be loved by the English people and unlike several of Henry's other wives she kept her head! Much of her sadness was in the separation from her daughter Mary, ( Henry forbade them from seeing each other unless they recognised Anne Boleyn as Queen which both refused to do).

[@armandoandmariavivancos6393]

@@IsisBarom Very true!!!

[@AliSakurai]

Sadly, it may have been her faith that led to her losing so many babies. She fasted constantly, even when pregnant.

[@IsisBarom]

@@AliSakurai Yes, I think you might be right. So much wasn't known at the time about the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and the impact on the development of the baby.

[@Nanjo_Honoka-san]

I SLAPPED THE LIVING HELL OUT OF THE NOTIFICATION AS SOON AS I GOT IT OML-

[@destinychappell785]

ME TOO

[@wild_flower_345]

Same

[@rolitiwari0909]

Same

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Omg y'all are so sweet :) I hope you enjoyed it!!

[@Vivaldilover]

Always, a beautiful presentation

[@agatha6999]

While these portraits could never convey how they actually looked in real life with how much editing was likely done, I always find it fascinating to see these recreations as they give a look into how these figures wanted to be seen as

[@earth2jennyl]

Your recreation of the older Catherine with the modification is spot on to me, intuitively! I agree she looks like the younger portrait! She could be the same woman for sure. Thank you so much for your beautiful work. 😍

[@wfreels1]

My husband and I think this is your best re-creation yet. Something about the older Catherine's face tells of the incredible pain and hurt she suffered due to miscarriages and Henry's push to have a male heir. Thank you for all you do to bring these people in history to life.

[@MakeupandMonarchies]

this was great. I've always thought that the Sittow portrait was Catherine as it looks nothing like the actual portraits of Mary Tudor. Thank you for making these!

[@erniegutierrez2288]

Such an admirable Queen. Her tomb is at Peterborough Cathedral. I stopped in the town while traveling from Norwich to Newcastle and regret not making time to see her tomb. Great Video she deserves so much more. "Like"

[@pixelsnuanced]

You are a stellar artist. All your videos, recreations combined with your angelic voice in your narrations are so touching, so heart-warming, so breathtaking.. that I can't even explain how many wonderful emotions I felt watching these master pieces you created & blessed us with. We love you!! 💌

[@elliebeep27]

A lot of the representations of them in this era are so wild. So many copies and all of them so bad! I wish we could find the real ones. Drives me mad when they refer to Princess Mary as 'Mary Rose Tudor' when middle names were hardly never used in this era. Mary Rose was a ship. Your re-creations are always so amazing. I think the Sittow portrait is her as it is so similar to the one of her and Juana as young girls. Would love to see what you do with portraits of her mother Isabella!

[@eduardorodas4497]

There is a Spanish tv show called Isabel it covers the life of Catherine’s mother Isabel of Castile. one of the last episodes shows young Catherine before leaving to England, and the actress that they got to play her Natalia Rodríguez looks so much more like the portraits of her then other Actresses I have seen play her in movies and TV shows and to make it even better she’s actually Spanish

[@cj-fi7kz]

Agreed. I love that Henry/Enrique 8th is the correct age aswell.

[@reverie6034]

From the historical descriptions and the similarity to the Juana portrait, I think the portraits you chose are Catherine. She’s beautiful and everything you would expect from a graceful Spanish royal. Almost all royals across Europe had the strawberry blonde hair. Well done!

[@susannahfox7188]

The red hair seems to come from Portuguese influence in Spain......

[@AhavahShalom]

Consider, as she aged and her efforts to birth an heir kept failing she may have become quite depressed and much of her face fullness in younger years may have simply melted away due to stress and loss of interest in things such as meals in a depressive state. The thinner faced portrait may actually be a dramatic change of the true facts in her appearance.

[@anabanana6890]

Could you do facial reconstructions of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella? Perhaps after we see what they looked like in real life we could get a better impression of Katherine’s looks as well. I loved your recreations btw. Bravo, as always.

[@sierrahicks6298]

With the two portraits you’ve recreated, I still feel she was beautiful even in her “old and deformed” state.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Me too :) if the portraits are accurate then that’s a very mean description.

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

She was losing popularity in court due to the lack of an heir. It's all politics.

[@corinthian123]

@@RoyaltyNowStudiosyes. But I think she wore her grievances of lost babies heavily in her face. Especially when she did give birth to a living son, who died after a month

[@Mayakran]

Yeah, and that’s a BOLD statement coming from a nose like that 😂

[@Rosy___]

I know it’s not accurate, but I absolutely LOVE Maria Kennedy as Katherine in The Tudors. I feel she portrays her character so well.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

I agree, she was a great actress for the role, I wish they would have done something else with her hair. However, Tudors is not known for it's historically accuracy and we still enjoy it anyway!

[@francine8806]

@@RoyaltyNowStudios The "Wolf Hall" version of both Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn are somewhat less than accurate when it comes to physical appearance. Anne is portrayed as having large blue eyes and Catherine is shown as a brunette. However, the costumes are the most accurate I've seen in a tv or movie production.

[@dansandulescu1366]

From the way you described her, the most appropriate portrait of Katherine of Aragon, which is also the most beautiful because of the modesty she radiates, is by the painter Michael Sittow! Katharina, in Greek, means "Queen".

[@dansandulescu1366]

The first portrait, the one at 00:00, 4:00...

[@suddhadasi]

Katarina in greek means "pure" from the same root as katharsis. But I am interested in your source where it says it means "queen"

[@dansandulescu1366]

@@suddhadasi You are right, Mrs. Natalia Gurevich, because the image of the Cathar „sect” - those who wanted* to maintain PURE the knowledge - appeared before my eyes as I was looking up the etymology of this word in my German dictionary, where „reine” is translated as „pure”, but, without thinking, I immediately understood it as in French, where it means „queen”, ... which is not quite wrong, because there really is a divine Being, Queen of Purity!** *They wished, but they also failed to keep PURE the teachings they received, otherwise they could not just "keep", but still perceive NEW revelations from the Heights of Light, always necessary for the further maturation of the human spirit. No one suffers without making himself guilty by one of his deeds or thoughts, and the stagnation of one element hinders the Movement of the Whole, which is in perpetual evolution. It is a stasis contrary to Divine Will; a sin, as moral decadence is! Otherwise the forces of Darkness would not have succeeded in eliminating them in the end! So not because of some dogma contrary to the „true” faith, but for the MATERIAL wealth, that „gold” they were rumored to have accumulated and which those in power always coveted... **Which is not the earthly mother of Jesus, as she was intentionally called by the leaders of the human church! PS: And „Natalia” means „born”... spiritually, not just reincarnated on Earth; more precisely: „reborn” with the recognition of the whole Truth, not censored by human hands, not falsely interpreted by the shrewdness of the intellect born of dust!

[@dansandulescu1366]

@@suddhadasi You are right, Mrs. Natalia Gurevich, because the image of the Cathar „sect” - those who wanted* to maintain PURE the knowledge - appeared before my eyes as I was looking up the etymology of this word in my German dictionary, where „reine” is translated as „pure”, but, without thinking, I immediately understood it as in French, where it means „queen”, ... which is not quite wrong, because there really is a divine Being, Queen of Purity!** *They wished, but they also failed to keep PURE the teachings they received, otherwise they could not just “keep”, but still perceive NEW revelations from the Heights of Light, always necessary for the further maturation of the human spirit. No one suffers without making himself guilty by one of his deeds or thoughts, and the stagnation of one element hinders the Movement of the Whole, which is in perpetual evolution. It is a stasis contrary to Divine Will; a sin, as moral decadence is! Otherwise the forces of Darkness would not have succeeded in eliminating them in the end! So not because of some dogma contrary to the „true” faith, but for the MATERIAL wealth, that „gold” they were rumored to have accumulated and which those in power always coveted... **Which is not the earthly mother of Jesus, as she was intentionally called by the leaders of the human church! PS: And „Natalia” means „born”... spiritually, not just reincarnated on Earth; more precisely: „reborn” with the recognition of the whole Truth, not censored by human hands, not falsely interpreted by the shrewdness of the intellect born of dust! ❤For your melodious voice! Uncle Dan.

[@dragnflei]

Yes, totally agree! I’d never seen the Portrait of a Girl but I think the resemblance between it and the Sittow portrait is strong. When you add in the sister, Joanna, the case seems even stronger. And, wow, you blew me away with the recreation of that miniature! It made me really happy to see that portrait become a real woman. Across the three portraits, the earliest, the Sittow and the miniature, I feel like I’m actually face to face with Catherine.

[@girlypanache7095]

How have I watched so many of these over the years and yet each reveal still gives me goosebumps? Your artistic gift is so so special.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

[@ariiiiiiiiiiiiiii.]

Could You please do a recreation & brief explanation of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz & King George III?

[@Fettigator]

Your videos are ALWAYS so incredibly fascinating!! 🔥 … I use your videos when homeschooling my children as you provide great history lessons in addition to your recreations. Thank you!!

[@eckoart.erin.jerome]

I feel they said mean things as a matter of politics and they could get away with it because they didn't have the technology we have today. What you said about her often being depicted as having dark features, and hair reminds me of when I asked my grandmother about her Spanish ancestry and she replied that her ancestors in Spain had red hair and blue eyes because they had not mixed with darker cultures at that point. So I found what you pointed out to be very apt.

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

Yes, Spain was Celt Iberia before the Romans conquered. They brought the dark complexion with them.

[@danellabarnes-penman1118]

This was fantastic! My goodness! Thank you for another wonderful recreation of an iconic English beauty. The real life recreation is absolutely amazing. Thank you so much!

[@TheLiebde]

English beauty? Sorry? As far I know she was Spanish!!!

[@mamthassmartmoms7456]

The soothing background music and your beautiful voice make the recreation magical!

[@glorianelson9538]

Wonderful portrait. Getting married at 15 to someone you didn't or barely knew must have been some kind of experience....Great job and another great video!

[@howdy4504]

Do love that Catherine's father declined King Henry VII. It gives me the impression that he did love her and wanted what was best for her rather than just seeing her as a political bargaining chip

[@uchiwasasuke8169]

the most underrated channel fr , you guys produce the best vids !!!

[@OttaSaur]

I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THIS!

[@awalden]

Becca! Andre! 🎉 Another home run! I love your scripts and narration. Of course I admire how much research and artistic talent goes into these presentations. The music selections are superb! Absolutely captivating... the simple and dramatic melodies really help to capture and set the mood and tone. Very well done! --- My husband and I love these and we wish you continued success in your endeavors! ~ Cheers!🍷🍷

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you so much!! We are so glad you’re enjoying them, thank you for watching ❤️❤️

[@lyrasantiesteban7687]

Kudos to you Becca and Andre this is such a marvelous video! Catherine of Aragon is my fave among Henry's wives. She is strong, resilient and inspiring. And she is beautiful! I love the recreations! They all look like Catherine and not Mary Tudor, i agree with you.

[@susannahfox7188]

But she is Catholic.....not the true faith. I am a descendant of Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII. And of Pilgrims. The country went through hell to come to a Protestant faith, but thank God it happened.

[@fabulouschild2005]

I always felt so terrible for Catherine. Her first husband died, she suffered dozens of miscarriages, only for her second husband to throw her over for a mistress

[@helpinyerdasellavon]

Such a beautiful rendition of Catherine of Aragon. Love how your videos are always carefully well documented and presented. Your recreations honoured her beauty and the controversial portrait by Sittow looks more likely to be Catherine of Aragon. Excellent work. Thank you, Becca 💖

[@AJP1613]

One of my favorite KZbin channels!!! Rewatched so many recreations again❤.

[@karaf.2539]

Your videos always come out when im having a really hard day with my anxiety. They really help calm me down. Thank you ❤

[@djsmith7720]

Becca, I definitely feel that the second recreation of her older portrait is definitely her! I'm a descendant of the queen of Castile, but through Joanna's line, not Catherine's and I can't believe how much the older recreation looks like me! Genetics is such a crazy thing!! I wish you would do one of Joanna too! ♥️ Would be nice to have her next to Philip the handsome.

[@crazymoose4572]

I am always so impressed by your impressions of each portrait you do. I feel this impression of Catherine is a lot more accurate. Thank you for your beautiful portraits. I enjoy each of your episodes

[@stacyrubel2632]

It feels like a mix of The Spanish Princess version of Catherine and the Tudors Catherine would be the perfect combination in terms of accuracy. Also, that Surf Shark placement was perfection lol.

[@lauracaponegro6811]

beautiful! both your work and presentation!

[@SpectrumMom]

It’s the smile! The smile gets me every time. So moving! ❤

[@cat_luvr6895]

Lovely Katharine of Aragon! 💐The flower of Trastámara... 🌹🌼🌻🌸🌺🪷🌷🪻🏵

[@jlongino51823]

I am blown away. Every single time. I believe you are correct. She is stunning. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us.

[@mac2807]

By far my favorite videos on YT. Your talents are amazing. Love the music too.

[@gailking6989]

I love how Cardinal Wosely describes her as a young girl in the show “Wold Hall” how her red hair slipped over her shoulder as she danced and every man in the room stopped breathing.

[@LisafromNOLA]

I have been watching old and new movies about the Tudor court and I’m shocked at the way most of them portray her. Beautiful vid, as always - thank you and much love from New Orleans ♥️⚜️♥️⚜️♥️⚜️♥️

[@ray.shoesmith]

idk why but I always tear up a little seeing your recreations for the first time

[@alisolilac]

Love your videos, thank you for the amazing effort you put into your videos 🥰💕✨

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you, we hope you enjoyed it!

[@noni4535]

I absolutely love your Channel & the recreations actually feel right. History has always been a passion of mine. I truly cannot thank you enough for bringing this historic past to life for us, not to mention the time and your remarkable talent you share.

[@hnb1113]

You're spot on with your recreations (beautiful!) and your assessment of the portraits. The Lambeth isn't a good representation, so I'm glad you nixed that one and used the Hornebout miniature. It was a better and likely much more accurate likeness of her. As for Francois I and his cruel opinion of Katherine, that might have been a bit of projection. His poor wife Claude was known to walk with a limp and had a hip deformity. I think he was just being petty and wanted to take a dig at Henry any way he could.

[@yaowsers77]

she's just lovely and i really like your interpretation. love your channel!

[@nickimontie]

I agree that those are of Catherine. Beautiful work, as always!

[@siobhano]

Agree with your analysis, RN team. I think the features that seem to confirm your conclusion is the shape of the face and the nose. As always, so enjoy your videos.

[@krystlejade9126]

Okay I've binged your videos all morning and no matter what the recreation, I swear people always look 10x more attractive when they smile.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

I am stunned by her nature beauty and I agree it is her. Thank you for sharing with us

[@SarahHovley]

I think you have done an amazing analysis and excellent recreations. ❤❤❤

[@richardpaschal2218]

Your comparison analysis is astute. How about a similar analysis of Catherine's older sister Juana?

[@pauldavies5611]

The first portrait you show reminds me very much of Anne of Cleves, although I suppose it really couldn’t be her. I read your article on Anne. Even with the possible too large nose I’ve never understood why Henry VIII rejected her as being ugly given that Holbein had painted her and she couldn’t have looked that much different in real life. What you say about Henry’s ego as the reason she was pushed away makes a lot of sense as does her ready acceptance of the conditions of the divorce. A nice palace and a generous lifelong stipend is far better than having your head on the floor. Thank you for this fascinating video.

[@mooliparsnip9264]

Your work is incredible, thank you.

[@cmcui]

Catalina!

[@Anita-rq9ev]

I enjoyed this very much as I enjoy all your videos. Her end was tragic. Great work and I have to say, I love your voice. Thank you 🙏

[@TeamCat1128]

You’re so incredibly talented!

[@KarenWimberley]

Your work is fascinating!

[@serahloeffelroberts9901]

Its not surprising Katherine was fair. She and Henry VIII were both descendants of John of Gaunt, 4th son of King Edward III, thus distant cousins. Queen Isabella, her mother, had beautiful red hair.

[@Lilyflowergirl98]

Shes buried in my home town of Peterborough uk. There are always flowers on her grave inside the cathedral. I think she was amazing ❤

[@theyogini108]

Totally agree with your re creation. You’ve really shown her personality as we understand it. Love love this . Thank you

[@jwilliams3269]

I so look forward to your videos. They are all amazing! ❤

[@Theturtleowl]

I spend at least an hour in the room of the National Portrait Gallery where the Tudor paintings are hung (and where I pestered the employees with questions). The two paintings of Kathereine and Henry are hung there too and apart from the beautiful gold in the pieces, they are lacking when compared to portraits of Elizabeth I or Holbeins. While I do believe the woman in the portrait that forms a pair with Henry is Katherine (if it was Anne Boleyn it would have been destroyed, Jane Seymour was later painted by Holbein and had different features and I just don't think that Henry would be painted in a pair with one of his sisters), I fully agree with you that the features of the sitters were not the focus of the artist. I hope that one day we can find more information about the identity of the sitters, or even a better image of Catalina d'Aragon.

[@HannahPorcella]

Really fantastic work! I know it takes a lot of effort prior to the reveal!

[@britanniau.k.4352]

Your work is totally fascinating and incredibly well executed.True talent.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you ❤️❤️

[@gladysclausing8785]

I love watching your recreations. In this instance I keep on focusing on the nose. The young portrait from the painter Sedow has a beautiful upturned nose. Other older paintings I see the nose as totally different. So interesting!

[@BeverleyZarnowski-xl3my]

I could have a hundred things on my to-do list, but when I watch your videos, I lose myself in the subjects, and forget about everything else. I definitely agree with you on your conclusion, especially when you compared Catherine's portrait with her sister's. I find it interesting that Henry VIII was red-headed, also.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Aw this is so nice. Thank you.

[@JH-nf9in]

She was a wonderful queen. Smart and badass.

[@monmothma3358]

I was so sure you were going to conclude that the Sittow portrait we thought was young Catherine, had to be Mary Rose Tudor, but then it took a different direction😅 I suppose the Sittow portrait could be the same woman as the miniature, and then the one of the 11-year-old girl could be Catherine as well. Catherine and Juana clearly looked similar to each other. However, if so, I don't get why the museum in actual posession of the Sittow portrait thinks it is Mary Rose Tudor. Gosh darn it, couldn't they have invented photography a few centuries earlier??

[@lynnestamey7272]

I'm just fascinated by your work, it's an amazing talent. Thank you!

[@ulrikeneumann7495]

Very nicely done! Thanks!

[@hollygolden9673]

Your creations are so lovely. Another great video.

[@gloriahui3490]

Your images always render me spell bound ❤

[@theresebannon7488]

I agree with your kast comparison. I used to work with someone who looks like your early, young version! I agree, she was still most likely beautiful in her later years.

[@theresebannon7488]

Last comparison

[@ClarenceDoskocil]

Outstanding work!

[@Tatsuemin]

I finally feel like someone gave justice to Catherine. Not all strong women need to be shown as austere and taciturn. Not all of them need to be "ugly" or somehow more masculine than it should. And most importantly, it needs to be said, there is a need to look at her relatives before taking conclusions on what she did look like. People sometimes forget she had a sister and a mother that looks nothing like some people portray her appearance. Okay, sometimes siblings look nothing like each other (me and my sister are living proof of this even having the same parents I look like my father and she looks like my mother) but still, there is always something there (like our smiles).

[@wemblyfez]

Yeah, I think you're on to something. I'll raise my hand in support of your conclusion. I'm always amazed at your dedicated work. Bravo!

[@Shrike58]

I always enjoy your depictions of these historical personages as moderns. This is one is good, though capturing Marie Antoinette's German flavor and Louis XIV as a modern executive are my favorites.

[@marcocatano554]

This was an amazing video. Thanks a lot!

[@PattisKarriereKarten]

WOW, she was so beautiful!! Very well done! I also think that your assumption is correct and the first portrait is her as a younger woman. Also it looks very similar to the little girl from the beginning and since the portrait of Juana is confirmed, we can be pretty sure that it is her. ❤

[@Rosy___]

Omg I LOVE Katherine of Aragon! I always look forward to your videos, but this one will be my favorite!

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you so much!

[@jeanettenels8501]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing your gifts with us.

[@dharmakaurkhalsa3923]

My guess would be that you are right in your thesis. But even it wasn't, your recreations and research are remarkable! Thanks ❤

[@cindymitcheltree7961]

Great job as always! I agree that they could be the same person. Thank you for all that you do!

[@arero3868]

You did great i cant wait to see your other video's.

[@alanatolstad4824]

Hmm...where does the "deformed" description come in? I wonder what that visitor was seeing that isn't readily obvious in any of the portraits? ---As I watched the recreations, I was thinking that there would be more cheek/jaw rounding. But age has a way of changing our facial structure, so had to be content with that.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

That's a good question - The "Deformed" description comes from a Venetian ambassador, and the French King. It's possible there was something "airbrushed" out of her portraits, but unfortunately there's no way to really tell. Her chin does look quite different in some of them? I'm not sure.

[@MundoGrua]

In the older recreation she probably looks like her mother, Isabel. Catalina looked like her mother side of the family, the Trastamaras, whom were of blond/reddish hair and blue eyes. And as someone else's mentioned, not all Spanish people are dark haired.

[@scarletibis3158]

Well done!

[@margaret2713]

Her grandmother was a Lancaster so she was a quarter English. Same family as Burt Lancaster apparently. Her mother Isabella was a blond beauty and very religious. So was Catherine who entered a convent after being dumped by her husband.