Catherine de Braganza

Catherine de Braganza was a Portuguese noblewoman who became Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II, in 1662. Born into the Portuguese royal family, she married Charles to strengthen alliances between England and Portugal. She was known for her support of cultural exchanges and the introduction of tea drinking to Britain. Her marriage helped foster closer ties between the two countries, and she played a significant role in the royal court during her husband's reign. Despite facing challenges, she is remembered as a key figure in 17th-century European diplomacy and royal life.