Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain (portrayed by Miriam Margolyes) was briefly engaged to Prince Edmund following an arranged marriage by the King for his own political gains. Expecting a ravishing Royal princess, Edmund was rather disappointed to discover she didn't quite accord with his mental picture, being short and fat. Dismayed, Edmund attempts to weasel out of the wedding every way he can, first by pretending to be "like the Earl of Doncaster" (i. e. gay). The Infanta thinks he is merely dressing up as a Spanish man in order to delight her.