I’ve also read (again pre-blog) Phillipa Greggory’s novel based on Elizabeth of York’s life, so was curious how their takes differed. I read Alison Weir’s (non-fiction!) biography of Elizabeth of York a while back (before I had my blog) and loved it, so I was interested to see how she tackled the same topic in fiction. The marriage is happy and fruitful, not only uniting the warring houses of Lancaster and York–the red and white roses–but resulting in four surviving children, one of whom, Henry VIII, will rule the country for the next thirty-six years. In recognition of his victory, Henry becomes king and asks Elizabeth to be his wife, the first queen of the Tudor line.

King Richard has murdered her brothers, yet she is obliged to accept his proposal.Īs if in a fairy tale, Elizabeth is saved by Henry Tudor, who challenges Richard and kills him in the legendary Battle of Bosworth Field. On the heels of this tragedy, Elizabeth is subjected to Richard’s overtures to make her his wife, further legitimizing his claim to the throne. Forever afterwards known as the princes in the tower, the boys are never seen again. Her uncle, the notorious Richard III, takes advantage of King Edward’s death to grab the throne and imprison Elizabeth’s two younger brothers, the rightful royal heirs. Flame-haired, beautiful, and sweet-natured, she is adored by her family yet her life is suddenly disrupted when her beloved father dies in the prime of life. Elizabeth of York is the oldest daughter of King Edward IV.

Alison weir the last white rose