Charles is married by proxy to Henrietta Maria in front of the doors of the Notre Dame de Paris on May 11, 1625, before his first Parliament could meet to forbid the banns.

Many members are opposed to the king marrying a Roman Catholic, fearing that Charles would lift restrictions on Roman Catholics and undermine the official establishment of Protestantism.

Although he will state to Parliament that he will not relax restrictions relating to recusants, he promises to do exactly that in a secret marriage treaty with Louis XIII of France.

Moreover, the price of marriage with the French princess is a promise of English aid for the French crown in the suppressing of the Protestant Huguenots at La Rochelle, thereby reversing England's long held position in the French Wars of Religion.