London, 11 February 1466: Elizabeth Woodville gives birth to her first child, a daughter named after herself. Baby Elizabeth of York is a beautiful and healthy little girl, who melts the hearts of her parents and grandparents. So much so, that her godmothers are both her grandmothers: Queen Cecily and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. Her godfather, is Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, whose two children, Isabel (aged 14) and Richard (aged 9), carry the Royal Princess at her resplendent baptism.
Elizabeth Woodville, Princess of Wales
York, 13 October 1466: Richard, Duke of Gloucester renounces his title and takes priestly vows. This is due to two reasons. Firstly, Richard has always been a devout child and seems to genuinely want a monastic life. Secondly, Queen Cecily, a very pious woman, always envisioned for Richard, her favorite son, to join the clergy. Richard allows it because it saves money and it’s one less son he has to worry about. Within a few years, Richard will find himself Bishop of York. Much to the surprise of the clerics, Richard manages his diocese well and shows wisdom beyond his years. Richard the elder sighs and remarks that he wishes his other sons were more like Richard. In the same ceremony, Margaret of Lancaster and Catherine Tudor are placed in a convent but do not take vows.
Richard Plantagenet, Bishop of York
Windsor, 11 August 1467: Princess Elizabeth gives birth to a second child: another daughter. Unfortunately, the labor was too difficult and Elizabeth expires 30 minutes after the delivery. Before dying, she makes Edward promise five things. Firstly, she requests that their newborn daughter be named Jacquetta after her mother. Second, she asks that Edward never have a mistress again (he had carried out an affair with a young lady during the pregnancy with Jacquetta). Thirdly, she begs that Edward marry Margaret of Lancaster “for the peace of all England”. Finally, she also requests that he arrange proper marriages for their daughters and that she will be buried in splendor at Westminster Abbey. A pious woman despite her reputation, Elizabeth perishes just after receiving Christ’s Eucharist for the final time. Edward is heartbroken and sinks into a deep depression.
Elizabeth Woodville, depicted in her Book of Hours made during her second pregnancy
Dunfermline, 14 January 1468: After catching tuberculosis in October 1467, King James III of Scotland dies in his mother’s arms. Queen Mary of Guelders is once again regent for the new monarch, her daughter, fifteen year old Mary. Princess Cecily of York, preparing to leave for her marriage to James in the spring, is so shocked she faints when told the news. Richard assures his favorite daughter that he will find her an even better husband.
Queen Dowager Mary is wary of the ambitious Boyd clan, who are demanding that their young leader, Thomas, Earl of Arran, marry Queen Mary. In record time, the regent writes to King Richard III asking for George, Duke of Clarence to marry her daughter. Richard sees a crown for his third son and agrees, sending George up to Scotland, where he and Mary will be crowned as King and Queen in May. Isabel Neville, his previous betrothed, is so heartbroken at the loss of her chance to be a royal Duchess that she commits herself to a convent.
James III, King of Scotland
Holroyd, 17 April 1468: George of Clarence meets with the Dowager and her two daughters at Holroyd Abbey. He declares Mary so enchanting he simply must marry her at once. Calling for a priest, the marriage is completed and consummated with surprisingly little pomp. George thinks his new wife is a beautiful young woman, while Mary is entirely enamored with her husband and considered him the peak of handsomeness and intelligence. In fact, some courtiers go as far as to say that Mary is completely obsessed with her groom and she can’t live a minute without him.
George, Duke of Clarence
Westminster, 27 June 1468: Having completed his mourning for Elizabeth Woodville, Edward is married to Margaret of Lancaster at Westminster Abbey. This is the first royal wedding to occur there since Richard II and Anne of Bohemia in 1382. The wedding itself is a grand affair. While Margaret is not a naughty woman, and this is Edward’s second marriage, Richard is so happy to see that the “last Lancastrian” has now been neutralized and that through her line shall come the next King, that he’s willing to splurge. Margaret sees the whole thing as fulfilling a duty, doing what she was born to do, and Edward is trying is best to be a good husband to Margaret, like he promised Elizabeth. Fortunately, she has already befriended with her new stepdaughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Jacquetta. She’s also known Cecily and Joan for ages, and is most happy to see them again.
Edward and Margaret’s wedding
Somerset, 29 July 1469: Edmund, Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beaufort have a fourth child, another little girl named Alice. Their fourth child, added to a nursery that’s well educated and very well organized. Edmund and Margaret seemed to have found genuine happiness. This is in contrast to George and Mary, who are dealt with an unfortunate blow (outside of George’s philandering), with the news that Princess Margaret, an ambitious girl who outright hates her mother and sister, has ran away and eloped with Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran, rebel and the Stewarts worst enemy. Margaret’s making it quite clear that she’s the true Queen, and now she’s claiming her sister (Mary) secretly took vows as a nun. In London, news treacles out of court that Margaret of Lancaster, Princess of Wales is expecting her first child.
Margaret of Scotland, Countess of Arran
London, 13 January 1470: The Princess of Wales delivers her first child. There is some disappointment at the birth of a third daughter, this one named Margaret. But Edward’s just happy to see he’s got a living wife and three children and, moreover, decides to begin looking for marriages for his daughters. Princess Margaret shows an interest in the arts and Edward has this painting of her completed shortly after her first childbirth in 1470.
Margaret, Princess of Wales, after having her first baby
Holroyd, 25 December 1470: In Scotland, Margaret, Countess of Arran has her first child, a son named James Boyd. Her sister Mary has long been frustrated by her inability to conceive, but as the New Year approaches she can safely announce her first child. George celebrates by getting drunk and participating in various vices.
Mary, Queen Regnant of Scotland
