As the daughter of England's powerful King Henry VII and Elizabeth
of York, Mary Tudor was born into an elaborate world of war and diplomacy.
In 1509, Henry VII died, and was succeded by his formidable son, Henry VIII,
Mary's older brother. When Mary reached her teens, King Henry VIII planned
to marry her to King Louis XII of France, who at the time, was in his early
fifties.  The beautiful, smart princess naturally wanted to marry for love,
not to form an alliance for her brother.  Finally, Henry VIII and Mary
compromised, with the agreement that she would marry his choice this time,
but the next time she wed, it would be of her choosing.  In 1514, Princess
Mary of England became the Queen of France.  Eleven weeks later, King Louis
XII of France died.
        It is thought that of the many attendants that accompanied Mary to
France, one was a young Anne Boleyn.  She may have become Mary's confidante
at this time, because Mary was reportedly cold to her in later years.
        When King Henry VIII began to plan Mary's second marriage to the
Habsburg Archduke Charles, she adamantly refused, so Henry VIII sent his
trusted friend, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, to escort her home to
England.  Brandon, a flirtatious unmarried nobleman, and Mary, a
blue-blooded young widow, quickly fell deeply in love.  Soon the two
secretly exchanged their vows in Paris.
        When the newlyweds returned to England, they faced the infamous
temper of King Henry VIII.  After many apologies by Mary, now Duchess of
Suffolk, Henry VII acquiesced to the marriage.  Mary's new husband, though
prolific, did not have royal blood in his veins, as her siblings' consorts
did.  Henry VIII, unhappily married to Katherine of Aragon, daughter of
Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, and her elder sister, Margaret,
was married to James IV, King of Scots.
        The happy union of Mary and Charles Brandon produced three children:
Henry, Earl of Lincoln, Frances, and Eleanor.  Frances Brandon later married
Henry Grey, who became the Marquess of Dorset, Duke of Suffolk, and they had
Lady Jane Grey, the famed " Nine Days Queen".
        Sadly, Mary Tudor, Princess of England, Queen Dowager of France, and
Duchess of Suffolk, died in 1533.

Source: Mary Myers