Catherine of Braganza, Queen Consort of England

Catherine of Braganza,Queen consort of England, Ireland and Scotland.

Consort 23 April 1662 – 6 February 1685

Consort to Charles II

Father John IV of Portugal

Mother Luisa de Guzmán

Born 25 November 1638

Vila Viçosa, Portugal

Died 31 December 1705 (aged 67)

Bemposta Palace, Lisbon, Portugal

Burial Jerónimos Monastery, Belém, Lisbon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Braganza

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8384814

http://thepeerage.com/p10140.htm#i101397

http://www.geneall.net/P/per_page.php?id=4078

http://www.nndb.com/people/232/000095944/

Unfortunately, she was barren, unable to have children. She was a remarkable woman who accepted her husband's Royal Mistresses. She was actually quite fond of Countess Castlemaine & dearly loved Charles - but in a platonic way. It could be argued theirs was a Bohemian, open relationship full of disarming honesty & merriment. Charles was a very kind and gentle man, unlike his hot-tempered father. He simply loved having fun. And he partied like there was no tomorrow. But in an inclusive, respectable way. By mutual agreement, Lady Barbara became King Charles No. 1 Royal Mistress & bore him six children. He had no issue with Queen Catherine, who didn't seem to mind at all, enjoying her tapestries, needlework, the harpsichord & charity work. It was indeed an arranged marriage but one that seemed to work out rather well indeed.