Mary had a tragic, sad childhood where she was separated from her mother, isolated and bullied by her father and forced to obey no matter how bitterly she resisted. Her only refuge was her Catholic orthodoxy.

After years of loneliness, spinsterhood and tears she triumphantly claimed the throne of England. Starved for love she married Philip II of Spain who reacted to Mary with polite indifference.

Mary loved children but was frustrated and mortified by her inability to become pregnant. In her bitterness she lashed out at her subjects burning more than 300 Protestants at the stake.

She died reviled and feared, imprisoned by her bigotry and unhappiness.