Dressed in Tudor costumes, youngsters from schools across Peterborough will take part in an annual pilgrimage to commemorate the 472nd anniversary of the burial of Katharine of Arag"n at the Cathedral on January 29.

The first of King Henry VIII's six wives, Katharine was entombed at the Cathedral following her death at Kimbolton Castle in 1536.

Since then it has been tradition for children, civic leaders and other dignitaries to hold a ceremony in the city which sees a special programme of Tudor music, Spanish readings and children laying flowers.

The ceremony will also mark the 22nd anniversary of Peterborough's twinning link with Alcalá de Henares, Katharine's birthplace in Spain.

It will be attended by representatives from the Spanish Embassy and the Anglo Spanish Society in London as well as members of the Hispanic Society of Peterborough.

Other guests will include members of Ampthill and Flitwick Dramatic Society dressed in Tudor Costume and representatives from Kimbolton Castle and Buckden Towers – locations where Katharine lived after her rejection by Henry.

International links officer with Peterborough City Council Elizabeth Storr said: "Tudor history and Spanish are important elements in the school curriculum.

"Katharine was an important and much loved Queen, who played a significant role in Tudor England. This ceremony also provides an excellent opportunity to promote the city and the cathedral's link with Katharine of Arag"n and her birth place."

Youngsters from Peterborough High School, Southfields Junior School, Bushfield Community College, Dogsthorpe Junior School, St Augustine's Primary School and Jack Hunt School will all be taking part in a special programme including choral music, Tudor songs, music and dance, readings in Spanish and a display of schoolwork on the Tudors.

And the ceremony will also see children laying flowers at Katharine's tomb while walking along a route featuring displays of school work on Katharine and the Tudors.

The cathedral ceremony will be preceded by judging and the award of prizes in a schools' art competition in the reception room in the town hall during which renaissance music will be performed by local music group Recorders Galore on the balcony outside the reception room.