Regarding Mary Rose and Anne — according to Starkey’s “Six Wives,” Mary did look down on Anne, since Anne was not royal and the Boleyns were “new men,” which is how Surrey refers to Hertford in Season 4 of “The Tudors.” Even the vet James Herriott wrote about the British distrust of “new men.”

As the Dowager Queen of France, Mary Rose was the second lady of the realm, only preceded by Catherine of Aragon. When Queen Catherine was banished from court Mary was top lady — and Anne, being Anne, felt as presumptive queen that Mary should pay courtesy to her. That’s our girl!

Margaret, as a young widow, was being shopped around to various Scots and English lords, and had a young son who needed a princess wife — as the legitimate heir to the throne at the time, Elizabeth looked very attractive. Scotland wasn’t winning wars against England at the time — so no wonder Margaret was buttering up Anne in hopes of uniting the kingdoms!

As for “The Tudors” not being able to continue — Michael Hirst has never let the facts get in the way of a sexy story, and he would get around the Lady Jane Grey and Mary Queen of Scots continuity problem if he really wanted to.

I think the key to continuing on to Edward VI and Mary I has to be a strong Elizabeth — which he already did in “Elizabeth” and “The Golden Age.”

I don’t think he wants to do that, and in fact he hasn’t — his next project is “The Borgias” for Showtime in 2011 with Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander. I was thinking of dropping Showtime after “The Tudors” ends, but now I think I’ll keep it!

As for Mary Rose looking like she has dark hair — sometimes the paint and varnish darken with age or paintings are restored badly. Henry and Catherine of Aragon both had red-gold hair, which looks brown in paintings. Katherine Parr has very dark hair in one painting and in the one that was once thought to be Lady Jane Grey her hair is light brown.

Has anyone ever found any information in the historical records explaining Mary Rose’s dislike of Anne? Is it possible that she loved Katharine of Aragon very much, and was irate that a “mere lady in waiting” dared to try to supplant a Royal Princess, a rank Katharine and Mary Rose shared?

By contrast, I read a reference in Karen Lindsay’s “Divorced, Beheaded, Survived,” wherein Margaret called Anne “Our Dearest Sister” in a letter, and was working to persuade her young son, James V of Scotland, to acknowledge Henry’s new marriage. That is a pretty sharp contrast in attitude between sisters!

* = I am using the name Mary Rose to avoid confusion with her niece, Mary I.

I love all of the articles and discussion of the Tudor era ladies. This is, for whatever reason, my favorite portion of history, above any others.

I wish there were a larger resolution picture of Mary as Queen of France – that is a gorgeous portrait. I am a doll collector, and I would love to get a replica of that gown for my planned Tudor display.

Seems so very simple for such a young woman who had such a vitality for life.

I wonder if her dislike of Anne Boleyn only happened when it was clear there was a relationship between Anne and Henry in the 1520s.

Anne was moved from the Burgundian court to join Mary’s entourage when she went to France o become Queen. Anne then remained behind with Queen Claude’s court when Princess Mary returned home to England. I could see her feeling a bit put out that someone who was once a mere maid of honour to her previously, was now higher in precedence.

I daresay that Mary had all the pride of the Tudors – just like her infamous brother.