The novel is the story of a tragic but significant queen in the history of Portugal, Queen Catarina of Braganza, Queen of England and wife of Charles II as well as Regent in Portugal at two different times. This is the story of a woman who aspired to an honest and simple existence, to genuine love, but who knew only sorrow during her lifetime. Despite this, she bore her cross with dignity, and she remained a just spirit, pure and undefeated by the injustice that life had dealt her. To many, she will be remembered merely as the originator of the tea custom among the English and less so for her life, which has remained little known to most people.