Museum of London

In a case at the Museum of London, lies a small pewter badge depicting a Tudor rose combined with a pomegranate.

These were the heraldic devices of Henry VIII and his first queen, Katharine of Aragon.

The pomegranate is an ancient symbol for fertility and regeneration, and in the Christian church is a sign of Christ’s resurrection.

It would have been seen as a very apt symbol for Katharine and the promise of heirs that her marriage brought.

The badge, showing the Tudor rose and the pomegranate of Aragon, either dates to the time of Katherine’s marriage to Arthur or to her subsequent marriage to Henry.

Such badges would have been worn by loyal subjects who wanted to show their love for their king and queen.

Katharine and Henry’s early married life seems to have been very happy.

They were clearly in love, both were attractive and well-educated with shared interests in the arts, humanities and politics.

In 1516 their daughter Mary was born, but their hopes for a male heir were not to be fulfilled.

Katharine suffered at least two miscarriages and bore three children who died in infancy, including a son, Henry, Prince of Cornwall, who lived for just under two months.

For Katharine, her device of a pomegranate, such a clear symbol of fertility, must have been heart-breaking.

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https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/.../pomegranate-and...

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders