Portrait of Elizabeth of Valois, Queen of Spain, bust-length, wearing a jewelled headdress and a red embroidered dress

Elizabeth of Valois was born at Fontainbleau on 2 April 1546, the daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. Initially betrothed to Edward VI of England, who died in 1553, she was being considered as a suitable bride for Prince Carlos, son of Philip II of Spain, when the King's second wife, Mary Tudor, died in 1548. Following his rejection by Queen Elizabeth of England, Philip agreed to marry the princess himself as part of the terms of the treaty of Cateau-Cambresis signed on 3 April 1559. The Duke of Alba stood proxy to the king at the wedding in Nôtre Dame de Paris on 27 June 1559 and the couple met at Guadalajara on 31 Janurary 1560.