 One year after Arthur 's death , Henry VII renewed his efforts of sealing a marital alliance with Spain by arranging for Catherine to marry Arthur 's brother Henry , who had by then become Prince of Wales . Arthur 's untimely death paved the way for Henry 's accession as Henry VIII in 1509 . The potential for a question as to the consummation of Arthur and Catherine 's marriage , was much later ( and in a completely different political context ) exploited by Henry VIII and his Court to cast doubt on the validity of Catherine 's union with Henry , eventually leading to the separation between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church . 
