Elizabeth Woodville is considered to be the first commoner to be crowned as Queen of England. Her coronation, soon after her marriage to King Edward IV was revealed, was controversial at the time and would mark a formal beginning to a royal tenure that was filled with drama and conflict.
Elizabeth Woodville was born in 1437. She was the first child of Richard Woodville and Jacquetta of…
Royal weddings are now major celebrations, glittering events that capture the imagination and draw huge crowds who cheer the vows and shout demands for a kiss when the deal is done. However, in centuries past a royal union might be a discreet event, witnessed by just a…
Jane Shore - from witty mistress of a king to dangerous political conspirator
31st July 2021
Elizabeth “Jane” Shore (née Lambert) was one of the many mistresses of King Edward IV of England. Jane would go on to become one of the most intelligent and beautiful women in the realm. Known as the witty mistress of the king, she would come to be known as a…
The role of consort can make or break a monarchy. Some have seen their reign saved by the energies of their spouse while others have seen their power waver because of their consort’s actions. Here, we look at the consorts of the House of York.
Queen Elizabeth, 1464 – 1470; 1471 – 1483
Many of her enemies would rather Elizabeth Wydville had never been queen at all. Instead, she is…
Her story is amongst the most controversial of all the Queens of England and now a new twist has appeared in the tale of Elizabeth Woodville. An expert at the National Archives in London has found a document suggesting that the consort who revolutionised royalty may have…
