Margaret of England

Margaret of England, born on 29 September 1240 at Windsor Castle, was the second child of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence. At the age of three, she made her first historical record appearance during an event in London with her brother, the future Edward I. She was betrothed to the future Alexander III of Scotland in 1244 as a part of peace negotiations between England and Scotland, and they married on 25 December 1251 at York Minster.

Margaret reportedly experienced unhappiness in Scotland, expressing homesickness and dissatisfaction with her treatment, which led to tensions between the two nations. After her father’s intervention, the conditions of her marriage improved, allowing for conjugal visits and the eventual consummation of the marriage. Margaret and Alexander had several children, including Margaret, Queen of Norway, and Alexander, Prince of Scotland. She was present at Edward I’s coronation and died on 26 February 1275 at Cupar Castle, buried at Dunfermline Abbey, Fife.