Ferdinand II's eldest son John Charles died young in 1618 and his second son went on to reign as Ferdinand III seeing the 30YW through to its conclusion. Before his death John Charles was engaged to Maria Anna of Spain who went on to marry his brother after briefly being considered as a bride for Charles, the Prince of Wales. What if John Charles had lived? This would take Maria Anna off the market and as Philip III had no other daughters available there would be no possibility of a Spanish match.
So how do James and Charles proceed? How determined were they really to seek rapprochement with Spain? Would Philip try to find some other pro-Spanish princess to prevent England from looking to France? I can't think of who would fit the criteria though. How would that impact Anglo-Spanish relations and domestic politics in Britain. Would Charles still end up with a French princess or would initial pursuit of the 'French match' be bungled like the Spanish match was leading him to eventually marry a protestant?
So how do James and Charles proceed? How determined were they really to seek rapprochement with Spain? Would Philip try to find some other pro-Spanish princess to prevent England from looking to France? I can't think of who would fit the criteria though. How would that impact Anglo-Spanish relations and domestic politics in Britain. Would Charles still end up with a French princess or would initial pursuit of the 'French match' be bungled like the Spanish match was leading him to eventually marry a protestant?