Charles II, King of England, married this dishy foreign princess, Catherine of Braganza on 21 May, 1662. She spoke no English and he no Portuguese, so their union was a fraught one and he kept mistresses to pass the time. Catherine, a devoted Catholic, failed to produce a son and refused his request for a divorce, which made things fraughter. In the end, she out-lived him. She’s remembered* for several things - a fondness for playing cards (on Sunday no less!), a fondness for wearing men’s clothes and for having the entire NYC borough of Queens named in her honour (there was a statue of her there forever, but the current inhabitants demanded it removed because of the Portuguese slave trade and a host of other unpleasantries). Ms Braganza gave England an even greater gift, one they’re still known for to this very day.
© 2024 John Oliver
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