WARNING: This article contains spoilers for The Spanish Princess that may influence your enjoyment in discovering the plotlines. Read at your own risk.
The Spanish Princess is all set to return with additional eight episodes on Starz. Set as a limited period drama series, filming for the next half of the season is set to begin this September.
Co-showrunner Emma Frost confirmed via Twitter that The Spanish Princess has been preparing to shoot the additional eight episodes even before the show debuted on the cable channel since the scripts are ready. This isn't necessarily the second season though, as The Spanish Princess was always planned out as a miniseries.
The Spanish Princess is part of a trilogy of limited dramas beginning with The White Queen (2013) and The White Princess (2017). All stories have been based on the novels written by Phillippa Gregory about the monarchy in Europe.
As it follows real-life events that happened in history, The Spanish Princess charts the rise of Catherine of Aragon (played by Charlotte Hope) as the Queen. In the first half of the season, the show delved on how she became the wife of Harry/King Henry VIII (played by Ruairi O'Connor) of England. The upcoming eight episodes will focus on her marriage and her struggles to produce an heir, as well as the political turmoil in her husband's court.
"We are thrilled to tell the next chapter of Catherine of Aragon's story as she negotiates war, politics and marriage to the most dangerous King of England," the showrunners said in the press release following the confirmation of the additional eight episodes. "As a company that always produces compelling and dynamic projects, Starz has been a great creative partner and we look forward to concluding Catherine's journey with them."
Meanwhile, The Spanish Princess will air episode 8 on Sunday, June 23, at 8:00 p.m. on Starz. A preview for this episode has Harry reminding Catherine that he defied his father to marry her.
Catherine was originally betrothed to Harry's brother Arthur. When Arthur died due to a plague, Catherine decided to stay in England and marry the next in line to the throne. It was revealed in The Spanish Princess that Catherine lied about her virginity so he could marry Harry. She was adamant in professing that her marriage to Arthur was not consummated so she would not violate a law in the Old Testament.
In actual historical accounts, Catherine of Aragon was known as a woman of piety. There have also been accounts of her unconsummated first marriage and that she reminded the King, two decades into their union, that he was the first man to touch her.
The Spanish Princess also airs on the Hulu streaming platform, aside from Starz.
