Elizabeth was forced into sanctuary in Westminster Abbey while Edward fled to Burgundy. There, she gave birth to Edward’s heir, the future Edward V. When Edward IV reclaimed the throne in 1471, Elizabeth was restored as queen. Her influence reached new heights during the remainder of Edward’s reign.
Widowhood and Intrigue
Edward IV died suddenly in 1483, leaving Elizabeth a widow once more, now with many children to protect. Their eldest son, Edward V, was only 12. According to Edward IV’s will, his trusted brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was named Lord Protector. However, Richard quickly seized control, imprisoned the young king and his brother in the Tower of London, and declared Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth invalid, rendering their children illegitimate.
This infamous episode culminated in the disappearance of the two boys, known as the “Princes in the Tower.” Whether Richard III was responsible remains debated, but Elizabeth’s role in resisting him was pivotal. She again sought sanctuary in Westminster and allied with her old enemy, Margaret Beaufort, to unite their causes. Their agreement led to the betrothal of Elizabeth’s daughter, Elizabeth of York, to Henry Tudor, Margaret’s son. shutdown123