Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth is married to Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. She stands up to Richard and tries to protect her sons. When Richard wants to marry her daughter, she secretly promises her daughter to Richmond instead.
Character traits
Strong
Queen Elizabeth is a strong character who stands up to Richard and confronts him about his crimes. She is also a confident and intelligent character who is able to match Richard’s sharp wit.
Vulnerable
Queen Elizabeth is left vulnerable when her husband, King Edward IV, dies. When Richard is given the role of Lord Protector, he has influence and power over Queen Elizabeth and her family. As a widow, she has very little power to stop Richard’s villainous plans to murder her family.
Protective
Queen Elizabeth knows that Richard is her enemy, and she tries to protect her sons and family. However, she underestimates Richard’s evil nature and is not able to save her two young sons. She can protect her daughter by leading Richard to believe she’s agreeing to their marriage, but secretly promising her daughter to Richmond.
Queen Elizabeth is a strong character who stands up to Richard and confronts him about his crimes. She is also a confident and intelligent character who is able to match Richard’s sharp wit.
Vulnerable
Queen Elizabeth is left vulnerable when her husband, King Edward IV, dies. When Richard is given the role of Lord Protector, he has influence and power over Queen Elizabeth and her family. As a widow, she has very little power to stop Richard’s villainous plans to murder her family.
Protective
Queen Elizabeth knows that Richard is her enemy, and she tries to protect her sons and family. However, she underestimates Richard’s evil nature and is not able to save her two young sons. She can protect her daughter by leading Richard to believe she’s agreeing to their marriage, but secretly promising her daughter to Richmond.
Relationships
Family
Before her marriage to King Edward IV, Queen Elizabeth was married to Lord Grey. Queen Elizabeth is supported at court by her two sons from this first marriage, the Marquis of Dorset and Lord Grey, and also her brother Earl Rivers.
Queen Elizabeth’s children with King Edward IV include Prince Edward, Richard, Duke of York and Princess Elizabeth.
Prince Edward is the heir to the throne but is considered too young to rule when his father dies. Richard, his uncle, is named Lord Protector and has the power to rule until Prince Edward – now King Edward V – is old enough to rule.
Before her marriage to King Edward IV, Queen Elizabeth was married to Lord Grey. Queen Elizabeth is supported at court by her two sons from this first marriage, the Marquis of Dorset and Lord Grey, and also her brother Earl Rivers.
Queen Elizabeth’s children with King Edward IV include Prince Edward, Richard, Duke of York and Princess Elizabeth.
Prince Edward is the heir to the throne but is considered too young to rule when his father dies. Richard, his uncle, is named Lord Protector and has the power to rule until Prince Edward – now King Edward V – is old enough to rule.
Enemies
There is conflict in the royal court as some noblemen resent the power given to Queen Elizabeth’s brother and her sons from her first marriage. Elizabeth has used her influence to make sure her family have high-ranking positions.
Richard hates Queen Elizabeth and her family and accuses her of having his brother Clarence imprisoned. Richard is also jealous of the influence Queen Elizabeth has over her husband, King Edward IV
Queen Elizabeth and Lady Anne share a hatred of Richard. Although Lady Anne has married Richard, she quickly realises he is using her to secure his position. Even Richard’s mother, the Duchess of York, joins her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, in condemning Richard.
Although Queen Margaret and Queen Elizabeth dislike each other, Queen Elizabeth later begs Queen Margaret to teach her to curse Richard. The senior women of the court are united against Richard and, despite their lack of power, they openly challenge and insult him.
There is conflict in the royal court as some noblemen resent the power given to Queen Elizabeth’s brother and her sons from her first marriage. Elizabeth has used her influence to make sure her family have high-ranking positions.
Richard hates Queen Elizabeth and her family and accuses her of having his brother Clarence imprisoned. Richard is also jealous of the influence Queen Elizabeth has over her husband, King Edward IV
Queen Elizabeth and Lady Anne share a hatred of Richard. Although Lady Anne has married Richard, she quickly realises he is using her to secure his position. Even Richard’s mother, the Duchess of York, joins her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, in condemning Richard.
Although Queen Margaret and Queen Elizabeth dislike each other, Queen Elizabeth later begs Queen Margaret to teach her to curse Richard. The senior women of the court are united against Richard and, despite their lack of power, they openly challenge and insult him.
Changes in character
In the royal court, a queen would often lose her power when the king died. Although Queen Elizabeth had influence and power as queen, as a widow she is powerless. She is worried that her children are in danger and in the end she is unable to save some of them.
Before King Edward IV dies, Queen Elizabeth knows that Richard is her enemy, but she doesn’t fully realize what he is capable of. After the king’s death, Richard is made Lord Protector and uses his new influence to have Queen Elizabeth’s family and supporters killed.
At first, Queen Elizabeth makes her feelings about Richard clear, but then she learns to hide her hatred. After arguing with him, she pretends to agree to let him marry her daughter, his niece Princess Elizabeth. Instead, she promises her daughter to Richard’s enemy, Richmond, and plots Richard’s downfall.
Before King Edward IV dies, Queen Elizabeth knows that Richard is her enemy, but she doesn’t fully realize what he is capable of. After the king’s death, Richard is made Lord Protector and uses his new influence to have Queen Elizabeth’s family and supporters killed.
At first, Queen Elizabeth makes her feelings about Richard clear, but then she learns to hide her hatred. After arguing with him, she pretends to agree to let him marry her daughter, his niece Princess Elizabeth. Instead, she promises her daughter to Richard’s enemy, Richmond, and plots Richard’s downfall.
