There are many examples of illegitimate children of English (and Scottish) royals being recognised and, even, of playing prominent roles at Court. Natural-born daughters were sometimes married to foreign rulers or (very often) to prominent nobles. Sons were often enabled or appointed to high office. Indeed, recognition was the norm, unless the supposed Royal parent did not recognise his paternity. Once the parent had recognised the child, his/her siblings were in no position to contest it, even on becoming King. Even Henry VII continued to appoint Edward IV's natural-born son, Lord Lyle, to high office.

Recognition continued to be common until Victorian times. The last British king to do so was William IV, who married a natural-born daughter to the Earl of Errol, one of whose descendants subsequently married the legitimate daughter of Edward VII. (Other descendants include Lord Norwich and Sarah Miles.)

Although there is no surviving evidence of Queen Margaret having married Tudor, it is impossible to believe that, having found herself with child, she would not have done so, or have pretended to. In either case, the King's not recognising his half-siblings would have been a great insult to his mother's honour which, in turn, would have been used against him by his enemies.