When the Tudors of England are mentioned, most minds immediately stray to King Henry VIII and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I. While the pair gained notoriety for their acts both on and off the throne, they're not the only Tudors who lived remarkable lives in the 16th century. While largely omitted from history books, Margaret Douglas --- the niece of Henry VIII, born to his eldest sister, Margaret Tudor, Queen Dowager of Scotland, and her husband, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus --- left a lasting impression on history itself.

Although the name Margaret Douglas doesn't often trigger instant recognition, the names of those to whom she was close reads like a veritable who's who of Tudor England. Her godfather was Cardinal Wolsey, a chief adviser to Henry VIII; her cousins were the offspring of Henry VIII (Mary I, Elizabeth I and Edward VI); and her son was Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, future husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.

"Weir’s insightful writing allows us to consider the heartfelt motivation behind the actions of this woman of history and plunks us directly into the political intrigue of 16th-century England and Scotland."

Margaret's early life was full of the kind of turmoil that makes for exciting reading. She was born in Northumberland, England, after her mother fled Scotland while pregnant to avoid the strife and intrigue that surrounded herself and her husband in Scotland. At around age 13, Margaret's father, who was separated from her mother, took custody of Margaret, and after that she had minimal contact with her mother. Most importantly, she spent the majority of her youth at the court of Henry VIII in the company of numerous important figures of the times.

Margaret's love life was no less enthralling than her upbringing. Her first love relationship, which culminated in an engagement to Thomas Howard, the uncle of Anne Boleyn, angered Henry VIII and landed Margaret and her lover in the Tower of London. A few years later, having regained Henry's good will, she again angered him by becoming involved with another Howard man, Sir Charles Howard.

Eventually, Margaret embraced a more settled love life when she married Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox. Even marriage, however, wasn't enough to prevent Margaret from angering the current monarch, this time Elizabeth I, and finding herself in the Tower of London again in 1566 and 1574. Fortunately, pardons were forthcoming, and unlike so many residents of the Tower, Margaret retained her life and her head.

Margaret's close proximity to the top royal figures added significance to her life. During her youth when Henry VIII reigned, Margaret was third in line for the throne, coming behind her mother, Margaret Tudor, and her cousin, Mary Tudor. Her half-brother, James V, was King of Scots. Her daughter-in-law was Mary, Queen of Scots, and her grandson, James VI and I, later became King of Scotland and King of England and Ireland.

Throughout her life, Margaret was known for her boldness, bravery, intelligence and diplomacy. Although not widely known today, she was a key player in Tudor times, and her actions had a major influence on those around her and on history at large.

In THE LOST TUDOR PRINCESS, Alison Weir brings to life a woman whose physical life ended in 1578 but whose spirit lived on in her descendants and in her legacy. Weir’s insightful writing allows us to consider the heartfelt motivation behind the actions of this woman of history and plunks us directly into the political intrigue of 16th-century England and Scotland. Included in the biography are excerpts from letters and poems written by Margaret Douglas herself.