A Tudor royal visit to Newcastle on this day
ON this day 515 years ago there was a very special visitor to Newcastle.
Princess Margaret, the 13-year-old daughter of Henry VII, and sister of Henry VIII, was on her way North to marry James IV of Scotland.
The king happened to be 30 years old!
The Newcastle Book of Days by Jo Bath and Richard F Stevenson throws light on the royal visit.
“She was met with religious processions, banners and crosses on display at the end of the bridge.”
Our illustration shows the medieval Tyne Bridge, which the princess would have crossed.
There were children singing and playing instruments when the royal coach - “richly dressed, with six fair horses, led and conveyed by three men” - entered the town.
“Crowds gathered to watch and tapestries were hung in the streets.
“Margaret stayed at the Augustinian Friary. There were dances, sports and songs with wine, sweets and other meats and entertainment lasting till midnight.”
On July 26, the Princess’s entourage moved on to Morpeth.
Her marriage to James IV took place at Holyrood Abbey on August 8. The pair would have six children, but only one - the eventual James V - survived childhood.
Margaret and James IV were married for just 10 years. The King of Scotland was one of the thousands hacked down and killed in the disastrous defeat by the English at the Battle of Flodden, in Northumberland, in September 1513.
She was married twice more, before dying, aged 51, at Methven Castle, Perthshire in 1541.