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Miniature portrait. Henriette Maria of France

Henrietta Maria of France (Paris25 november 1609 – Colombes10 september 1669) was Queen of from 13 June 1625 to 30 January 1649. EnglandScotland and Ireland through her marriage to Charles I of England.

She was born as Henriette-Marie de France, Princess of France. She was the youngest daughter of King Henry IV and Queen Maria de ' Medici. She was a sister of the future Louis XIII of France. She also had two older brothers: Nicolaas and Gaston, both Duke of Orléans. She also had two older sisters: Elizabeth and Christina Maria. Her father, Henry IV, was murdered in 1610, Henriëtta Maria was just one year old at the time. In 1617 her mother, Maria de ' Medici, was banished from the French court.

She was born on the Louvre and received a Catholic education. As a result, she became an unpopular choice as a wife for the English king, with whom she per proxy married on May 11 1625, shortly after his accession to the throne.

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