Elizabeth Woodville

Also known as: Elizabeth Greie / dame Elizabeth Greie / ladie Elizabeth Graie / quéene Elizabeth / quéene his wife · Family: England · Role: queen of England · First appears: Henry VI 26

Elizabeth Woodville was a daughter of Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers and a sister of Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers. While serving Margaret of Anjou, she married John Grey and was later widowed. By c. 1437, she is identified as queen through her marriage to Edward IV; the detailed account places that marriage at Grafton in 1465, when “priuilie in a morning he married the said ladie Elizabeth Graie at Grafton beforesaid.” In the following year she was solemnly crowned queen at Westminster.

Around 1470, after Edward IV fled, Elizabeth took sanctuary at Westminster in great penury and gave birth to Edward V, with the account describing the child’s christening as having little ceremony. The material also places another birth of Edward V in the meantime, and records that when Edward IV returned victorious, she brought the prince to him. In the c. 1483 accounts, she again appears in sanctuary while pregnant during her husband’s exile, saying, “For when my lord my husband was banished, and thrust out of his kingdome, I fled hither, being great with child”; she later brought the child to Edward IV after his return.

After Richard III came to power, Elizabeth was approached by Lewes (the queen's physician) about marrying her eldest daughter, Elizabeth of York, to Henry VII, joining their houses against Richard III. She accepted and, with Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond, concluded the marriage enterprise. She was later urged by Richard III to reconcile with him, submitted herself to his authority, and delivered her five daughters into his custody. She also wrote to her son Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset, then with Henry VII at Paris, urging him to leave the earl and return to England.