Catherine of Aragon, Castilian Infanta Catalina de Aragón y Castilla, was most famously the first wife and queen consort of Henry VIII of England.

At an early age, Catherine was identified as a suitable wife for Arthur Tudor, son of King Henry VII of England. They were married by proxy, and corresponded in Latin until Arthur turned fifteen and it was decided that the time had arrived for them to be married in person.

After Arthur died on April 2, 1502, it was agreed that Catherine would marry the king's second son, Prince Henry, who was more than five years her junior. The marriage did not take place until after Henry VIII acceded to the throne in 1509. The wedding took place on June 11, followed by the coronation on June 24, 1509. Both as Princess of Wales and as Queen Consort, Catherine was extremely popular with the English people.

Henry's discontent with Catherine was based on the fact that all their male heirs had died in childhood, with only one of their six children, Princess Mary (later Queen Mary I) surviving as heiress presumptive.

Until the end of her life Catherine of Aragon would refer to herself as Henry's only lawfully wedded wife and England's only rightful Queen Consort; her faithful servants continued to address her by that title. Henry refused her the right to any title but "Dowager Princess of Wales".

Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle, on January 7, 1536 and was buried in Peterborough Cathedral. Catherine was the only one of Henry's wives who lived to see her 50th birthday.