Letters between Queen Katherine of Navarre and Princess Mary Rose, Duchess of Westmoreland

To her Grace the Duchess of Westmoreland; Mary Rose, Princess of England

My dearest Sister,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and happiness. I pray for you and the babies each day and hope that soon I may meet my nephews.
I to have happy news for you; Francis and I have had a baby! A little princess for Navarre, whom we have named Elizabeth after our Mother.

I have missed you Mary and long to see you. Also, I have returned home to England...I cannot write the reason why, but the next time we meet; I shall tell you, I promise.

All my Love to you, Royce and the babies.

Your devoted sister,

Katherine

To her Grace the Duchess of Westmoreland; Mary Rose, Princess of England

My dearest Sister,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and happiness, but I have grave news to impart. My husband and King, Francis is dead. He died and now I am a powerless dowager Queen, Mary. Not only that but he has named his Niece, Juana as Queen and past over our daughter.
I have returned to England but the news I share with you gets worse. Francis named me as Queen Regent for his niece, I am to rule Navarre until she is of age and displace my own daughter.

I pray you are well and I hope that we see each other soon. I am in need of my sister's love.

Your ever devoted sister,

Katherine.

'My dearest Sister,

I am very sorry to here of such loss our brother wrote and told me of your sadness. As for the overthrowing of your own daughter perhaps he did this as the Spanish Emperor wants to declare war with England. Sadly I learnt from our beloved mother that wealth and royalty come before loyalty. Try not to see this as an act of cruelness the Princess Joan has the entire French Royalty to govern her. Try to be a mother figure to her she is a young child and is being used as a chess piece in a much much bigger scale She is innocent in all this. I grieve with you even though I am in Scotland. As always you are most welcome to come and see us both with young Elizabeth too.

Write to me whenever you need me I shall always be here for you sister.

Your beloved Sister,
Mary Rose.'

To her Grace the Duchess of Westmoreland; Mary Rose, Princess of England

My dearest Sister,

Thank you for your words of wisdom. I will try to keep our mother's lesson in mind; I only wish she could have taught me herself.

I shall talk to Henry and maybe visit you in Scotland. It is my dearest wish to have our family reunited one day and for all our children to play together.

I pray for you and your family as ever.

Your loving sister,
Katherine.

'My sweet sister,

I have told Royce of your news and he sends his love as well. I hope I get to see you before you leave England. As ever Scotland is always here if you need a break. It would be lovely to have our children playing together they are cousins after all.

Give my love to sweet Elizabeth who shall always be a little Queen in my eyes.

Your loving sister,

Mary Rose.'

To her Grace the Duchess of Westmoreland; Mary Rose, Princess of England

My beloved Sister,

I pray that this letter finds you well and happy. Though I am still in mourning, I think very little of Francis and the past, but find myself thinking of my future and as a widow; I am once again under the protection of our brother. I am Henry's to gift and give once more. But enough of me, how are the boys and Royce? How is Scotland and the wild north? Hearing from you always brings such joy to my heart!

Your little queen, Lizzie sends her love; they grow so quickly Mary, she now has a full head of golden hair....much like Mother and I. It is my dearest wish to see my nephews, nieces and daughter playing together. Perhaps, we could arrange a visit to either court or Scotland?

With love always,

Your adoring sister,

Katherine