HISTORIAN Gareth Mills gave a fascinating insight into the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort, at Narberth Ladies Probus Club’s April meeting.

The grand-daughter of the 2nd Earl of Somerset and his wife, the great heiress, Lady Margaret Holland, Margaret lost her father when she was about a year old. This made her heiress to valuable estates across the South of England and the Midlands.

When Margaret was 12, she was married to Henry VI’s half-brother, Edmund, and took up residence in the Bishop’s Palace at Llandyfai in Pembrokeshire. Unfortunately, Edmund died, so Margaret retired for safety to Pembroke Castle. It was here that she gave birth to a son, who would eventually become Henry VII. Margaret's son was then entrusted to Jasper Tudor’s care at Pembroke Castle in Wales.

Gareth then gave a very detailed account of Margaret’s role in orchestrating the rise to power of the Tudor dynasty. When her son was finally crowned Henry VII, she became a co-ruler of England, housed in every royal palace in the best rooms, often with interconnecting doors to her son. She wrote the Book of the Royal Household, determining how state and private occasions should be performed. She was a keen landlord of her vast lands, and took an active part in the government of the kingdom. She outlived her son, but survived long enough to see her grandson inherit the throne.

President Jane Davies thanked Gareth for his very informative and enjoyable talk.

The next Probus meeting will be at the Plas Hotel this Friday, May 2, 11am when Anne Ponische will talk about the Samaritans. New members are always welcome.