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Shock Royal Wedding!

King Edward IV shocked his Court with revelations of his secret marriage to Elizabeth Wydville (Woodville) in September 1464. The wedding took place in May 1464, with the bride’s mother present.

Edward IV was the first king to marry a commoner. He was forced to reveal his marriage when he pressed by his Council to choose a foreign princess as a bride.

Elizabeth waylaid Edward IV whilst he was hunting in Whittlebury Forest. She knelt before him, with a child either side, and pleaded for the restoration of her husband’s estates for her two sons.

The Wars of the Roses was a struggle for the crown between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. Edward IV defeated Henry VI in 1461. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey, aged 20.

Elizabeth’s recently deceased husband fought for the Lancastrian cause in the Wars of the Roses. The Yorkist Edward IV forfeited his estate. Her husband, Sir John Grey, died in battle at St Alban’s in 1461.

Edward was immediately attracted to Elizabeth. They continued to meet several times. He persuaded Elizabeth to become his mistress. She refused.

"My liege, I know I am not good enough to be your Queen, but I am far too good to become your mistress."

No doubt, Elizabeth was aware of Edward’s promiscuous reputation.

Edward wasn’t fussy. He didn’t care whether the women were noble or common, married or single. Money, promises and his sex appeal were usually enough to conquer all resistance. After his conquests, he tossed them aside passing them to his friends or other courtiers.

It was a complete shock for a woman to refuse his charms. Elizabeth was cold and aloof.

Edward IV was a prize for any princess in Europe, with his youth, good looks and reputation. He was burly blond giant (six feet four inches in height!). Edward was fashionable dressed, an accomplished dancer, something of an exhibitionist and, unlike the Royal family in recent times, unusually accessible to his subjects. Edward was courageous in battle, energetic, intelligent, witty and congenial. Edward was ruthless when crossed!

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was described as a "cool blonde beauty". Elizabeth was "moderate of stature and well-made" with very long pale gold hair and ice-blue eyes. Elizabeth was also wily, vengeful, arrogant, greedy and ruthless.

The marriage proved unpopular. Elizabeth had a number of greedy relatives hoping to benefit themselves through her marriage. The Wydvilles quickly acquired a reputation as pushy social upstarts. The aristocracy resented their rapid advancements.

The fact he married Elizabeth in secret proved he knew he was making an unsuitable match. Edward did not change his philandering ways as he had numerous mistresses, including Jane Shore.

The Council told the King his bride was not suitable. Her father wasn’t a duke or an earl.

Elizabeth further enraged the nobility with her matchmaking. She arranged marriages between her many relatives and the greatest heirs and heiresses of the realm. Age was no barrier. Her brother John, 20, married the elderly Duchess of Norfolk, 67 – a union described as "diabolical". Elizabeth’s many sisters married well.

The marriage caused divisions within the Royal Family. The King’s mother, Cicely of York, opposed the marriage for two reasons. The regal Cicely of York was infuriated by having to give her place to the daughter of a man of ordinary lineage. The new bride was a widow with two children. Her previous husband had fought for their enemies.

The King’s younger brothers, the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester, disapproved as she was not of royal rank.

Edward alienated many supporters, especially the Earl of Warwick. The question of Edward’s marriage was an important diplomatic issue. Warwick favoured Bona of Savoy, Louis XI’s sister-in-law, and alliance with France. Edward’s marriage thwarted Warwick’s plans.

Warwick allied himself to the Duke of Clarence in 1469. Warwick planned to gain control of the King and rule through him.

Edward refused permission for Clarence to marry Warwick’s daughter Isabella. Clarence defied his brother and married Isabella in July at Calais.

Disputes over the Crown began once more. Edward was deposed and taken prisoner. Warwick released Edward when Scotland invaded England.

Edward regained control. He denounced and his brother. Warwick and Margaret of Anjou, wife of the deposed Henry VI, invaded England. Her husband was restored as a puppet king in October 1470. Edward IV deposed his rival with financial aid from Burgundy.

Lancastrian hopes were dashed in April 1471. Warwick was killed in battle. Margaret of Anjou was captured, and later ransomed by Louis XI. Prince Edward of Lancaster lost his life.

Elizabeth fled to Sanctuary at Westminster Abbey. She gave birth to the long-awaited heir, the future Edward V, on 2 November 1470.

Elizabeth bore Edward a large family of three sons and seven daughters. Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth of York, married Henry VII.

Edward died in 1483, from suspected pneumonia. He was 41 years of age.

Elizabeth fled into Sanctuary once more with her daughters and youngest surviving son, Richard Duke of York, as she feared retribution from her brother-in-law. Richard, Duke of Gloucester took the young King into his care and persuaded Elizabeth to permit the little Duke of York to join his brother in the Tower. She never saw her two sons again.

Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath and Wells, dropped the bombshell regarding the validity of the marriage. He claimed Edward committed bigamy as his ‘first wife’, Eleanor Butler, was still living when he married Elizabeth. Parliament declared her marriage to Edward IV invalid and her children illegitimate. (This was revoked in December 1485, under Henry VII.) The Duke of Gloucester then claimed the throne as Richard III.

Edward V was deposed in July 1483. Richard III allegedly murdered him and his brother.

Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at Bosworth in August 1485 and claimed the throne as Henry VII. He married Princess Elizabeth, uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster.

Elizabeth died in 1492 from a fatal illness. She is buried next to her husband at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

© Carolyn M Cash 1997