The inspiration

In 1501, Arthur, Duke of Cornwall, had all of England at his feet. As the eldest son of King Henry VII, he was heir apparent to the throne. His contemporaries considered him the great hope of the freshly forged Tudor dynasty. And at the age of 16, he had just married his sweetheart, the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon.

Destiny, however, had different ideas. The couple – now proclaimed Prince and Princess of Wales – moved to Ludlow Castle to rule over their estate. But by spring, Arthur had succumbed to a mysterious illness. The Great Tudor Hope was dead.

If local legend is true, Catherine may have lived for a spell at Castle Lodge while her husband battled his malady. In any case, her fate was sealed. She would go on to marry Arthur's brother, King Henry VIII, and become Queen consort of England.