Princess Mary Henrietta was born on 4 November 1631 at St. James's Palace, London as the third (but second surviving) child and eldest daughter of Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland and Henrietta Maria of France.
She was baptized on the same day of her birth, as there were fears that the newborn princess was not in good health and might die; the ceremony was presided over by William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury.
The girl received her first name in honor of her maternal grandmother, Marie de' Medici, Queen of France.
Mary's first public appearance took place in 1640 at the baptism of her brother Henry, Duke of Gloucester; she became the only godmother of the little prince.

Mary spent the first years of her life with her brothers and sisters at St James's Palace, as well as at Richmond Palace and Hampton Court.
The education of the princesseswas entrusted to the Countess of Roxburghe.
Mary was known for her grace, beauty, and manners; in addition, she excelled in dancing, but her knowledge of the sciences left much to be desired.
The girl's mother, Queen Henrietta Maria, wanted to convert her daughter to Catholicism, for which she introduced a young lady who secretly professed Catholicism to Mary's circle of friends, but King Charles I quickly stopped his wife's actions.

In January 1640, 8-years-old Mary received her first marriage proposal: the 13-years-old William, the eldest son and heir of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, asked the hand of the princess.
The mother of the potential groom, Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, was once a lady-in-waiting and close friend of Mary's aunt Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, which later played an important role in Mary's life.
The offer of the House of Orange was at first rejected by King Charles I, who wanted to give his daughter in marriage to Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias, only son and heir of King Philip IV of Spain and also Mary's maternal first-cousin.
A pre-requisite for such a union was Mary's conversion to Catholicism, but the princess, who at the request of her mother studied the basics of the Catholic religion, didn't want to change her faith.
Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine, Mary's paternal first-cousin, was also a suitor for her hand, but at the end this proposal also fell through.
Princess Mary Henrietta was born on 4 November 1631 at St. James's Palace, London as the third (but second surviving) child and eldest daughter of Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland and Henrietta Maria of France. She was baptized on the same day of her birth, as there were fears that the newborn princess was not in good health and might die; the ceremony was presided over by William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury. The girl received her first name in honor of her maternal grandmother, Marie de' Medici, Queen of France. Mary's first public appearance took place in 1640 at the baptism of her brother Henry, Duke of Gloucester; she became the only godmother of the little prince.
Mary spent the first years of her life with her brothers and sisters at St James's Palace, as well as at Richmond Palace and Hampton Court. The education of the princesseswas entrusted to the Countess of Roxburghe. Mary was known for her grace, beauty, and manners; in addition, she excelled in dancing, but her knowledge of the sciences left much to be desired. The girl's mother, Queen Henrietta Maria, wanted to convert her daughter to Catholicism, for which she introduced a young lady who secretly professed Catholicism to Mary's circle of friends, but King Charles I quickly stopped his wife's actions.
In January 1640, 8-years-old Mary received her first marriage proposal: the 13-years-old William, the eldest son and heir of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, asked the hand of the princess. The mother of the potential groom, Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, was once a lady-in-waiting and close friend of Mary's aunt Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, which later played an important role in Mary's life. The offer of the House of Orange was at first rejected by King Charles I, who wanted to give his daughter in marriage to Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias, only son and heir of King Philip IV of Spain and also Mary's maternal first-cousin. A pre-requisite for such a union was Mary's conversion to Catholicism, but the princess, who at the request of her mother studied the basics of the Catholic religion, didn't want to change her faith. Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine, Mary's paternal first-cousin, was also a suitor for her hand, but at the end this proposal also fell through.
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange