Katharine, Henry VIII’s first wife, is buried in Peterborough Cathedral, and a number of services, talks and events took place last weekend to mark 484 years since her funeral.
Visitors came from far and wide - including Katharine’s native Spain - to pay tribute to her, and to learn more about her life. There was a special service for school children on Friday, with more than 200 pupils attending, while historian Lesley Smith gave a talk about Tudor life. There were also candlelit tours of Peterborough Cathedral, and re-enactors dressed in Tudor costumes at Peterborough Museum for a range of family friendly activities over the weekend. A spokeswoman for the cathedral said: “It was wonderful to welcome so many people to the Cathedral during the Katharine of Aragon Festival weekend. On Friday around 200 pupils from primary and secondary schools took part in the Commemoration Service and the schools’ day that followed. “The students learned about the life of the Tudor queen and in the last session were also thrilled to meet her, in the form of the historian Lesley Smith, wearing an authentic Tudor costume and answering their questions. “The Festival always draws new people to the city, as well as regular visitors, and is a reminder of how important Peterborough Abbey was in the sixteenth century, chosen as a burial place fit for a queen (or a princess, as Henry VIII would have seen her). It is also an opportunity to think about what we can learn today from her example of faithfulness, strength and forgiveness.”
