The Other Tudor Princess: Margaret Douglas, Henry VIII's Niece

A shadowy and mysterious character in Tudor history, Margaret Douglas now takes center stage in this tale of the bitter struggle for power during the reign of Henry VIII. Margaret is Henry’s niece, and finds herself in favor with her uncle. In 1536, when the King turns against his second wife Anne Boleyn, he declares his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, bastards—and appoints Margaret as his heir to the throne. But when he discovers Margaret’s love affair with Anne Boleyn’s uncle, Henry imprisons her and her lover in the Tower. Through Margaret’s marriage of her son, Lord Darnley, to his cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, she unites their claims to the throne, but under the reign of Elizabeth tragedy strikes again when Lord Darnley is murdered, possibly by his wife. As Margaret reaches old age, her place in the dynasty is still not safe, and she dies in mysterious circumstances.