the white princess henry and lizzie
I asked Frost if she thought that, in the end, Lizzie and Margaret were equals in their brutal acts, as Margaret seems to suggest: "I think Margaret always had choices. The White Princess will premiere in the UK on UKTV Drama on Saturday 18 November 2017 at 9pm. By entering your details, you are agreeing to HistoryExtra terms and conditions and privacy policy. 7. He doesn’t deny it and he doesn’t keep trying to hold on to tell himself, he immediately has the Boy moved into the same cell as Teddy, he wants him treated properly and he breaks down to Lizzie and says, 'I don’t have the right to be King, I’ll go quietly.' Lizzie gave birth to Arthur and was crowned Queen of England. In the end, the story is about that macro issue (who the throne belongs to), but the show also zeroes in on the way it affects Henry and Lizzie and their marriage: "[Knowing who The Boy is] undermines him, and eats away at him. So that means [Lizzie] has to try and bolster him, she has to find a way through this for both of them. I certainly don’t have an allegiance for one over the other, I just am interested in how these different politics can tear these families apart. Even Isabelle of Castille, we have in our show, she’s a fantastic character who presides over Christopher Columbus, going off, exploring the new world. After all, she has kept her word. No one knew whose side they were on anymore. But for Lizzie, it offers her the promise, at last, of power in her own right. A betrothal had been arranged previously, but one must wonder how much hope Elizabeth had placed in Henry ever being capable of claiming his bride. Viewers saw in the premiere of The White Princess that King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York agreed to marry, despite (quite frankly) hating each other. ", "I hope Lizzie, as an character, becomes an icon who inspires -- that however hard those choices are, women can lead," Frost told me. She is the oldest child of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, the lover of the deceased Richard III, and the one uniting the warring factions of York and Lancaster by marrying the … 'The White Princess' Recap: Lizzie Saves The Day, Yet Again 'The White Princess' Recap: Some Sins Can't Be Taken Back 'The White Princess' Recap: Is Henry… What is commonly forgotten, however, is that they had a third son: Prince Edmund. I don’t feel I have consciously gone one way or another with it," Frost said. In this moment, she is protecting him, which he knows and understands because by watching her, he knows that The Boy is no pretender. "If Henry loses, he will lose his life and both of their sons will die. But also Henry’s decency shows what a strong character he is. How people can form allegiances one way and then another way.". You can unsubscribe at any time. We take a look at the real figures portrayed in the historical drama…. IMDb 7.6 ... King Henry VII and Lizzie travel to Spain in an attempt to secure their son’s betrothal, but news of their country’s instability has preceded them. It's also true that one of the most frustrating things about a show like The White Princess, and its Starz cousin Outlander, is that they are often immediately dismissed as "women's shows" in a pejorative sense. In … The White Princess. Also, if Richard III really had been a serious killer in the interests of his own ambitions, why didn’t he kill Lord and Lady Stanley – and John Morton?”. This union between the rival houses of York and Lancaster was seen to bring peace after the Wars of the Roses, a series of conflicts between 1450 and 1500 that saw England riven by revolts, murderous coups, financial collapse and full-scale battles. Jodie Comer ( The White Princess) Alexandra Moen ( The Spanish Princess) Elizabeth of York is the main protagonist of The White Princess, as well as a prominent character in The Cousin's War and The Tudor series of books. So I think there is, in terms of really boldly telling her story and leaving the audience with really tough moral and emotional decisions, I think it’s a great place to end it. Obviously to my mind there are lots of different ways you can be loyal and faithful to the king and one of those does involve having some influence and some agency.". ", Those allegiances of course didn't just tear the families apart (there's a reason why The Wars of the Roses is also known as The Cousins War), but the entire country. Steven Gunn: “Henry VII is the inscrutable Tudor. He did. Sequel to "The White Queen" chronicles the power grab among the women vying for the English throne. I mean truly, what is not to love? "As far as Lizzie’s story, I think we end where we needed to. Thus was founded the Tudor dynasty. Alison Weir: “Born in 1466, Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of the Yorkist king Edward IV, sister of the princes in the Tower, and niece of Richard III, who had her and her siblings declared bastards so that he could claim the throne. Everything you ever wanted to know about... Did Richard III murder the princes in the Tower? With Jodie Comer, Rebecca Benson, Jacob Collins-Levy, Richard Dillane. And that takes it to a place for me that I find tremendously exciting and I hope viewers will feel that too. In her original story, Gregory builds on the speculation that the king was the lover of Elizabeth of York before her marriage to Henry VII, and also suspected of murdering the two sons of the dowager queen. Writing on Elizabeth Woodville’s earlier years and relationship with Edward IV, late medieval and early Tudor historian Amy Licence says that at five years older than her royal husband, Elizabeth Woodville was an unlikely queen. Described by Jones as “truly one of history’s great survivors,” the mother of the first Tudor king is played by Game of Thrones’ Michelle Fairley in the series, and she has spent her entire adult life setting the stage for her son to become king. The White Princess Quotes. The humanist scholar Erasmus described her in one word: “brilliant”. Lizzie makes an unbelievably difficult decision in the end (and throughout the story), but perhaps the real heroine is Maggie, who finally steps up, comes out of her shell, and fights for what she knows is right even at her own peril. Adapted from Philippa Gregory’s bestselling novel of the same name, The White Princess centres on the marriage of Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII. Edward of Westminster was killed at the battle of Tewkesbury, and Anne Neville almost certainly died naturally. That is not surprising, since his invitation to mount the throne had been based upon the conclusion that all of Edward IV’s children were bastards. Richard III himself contemplated marrying her, but in 1485 Henry Tudor, who claimed to be the heir to the House of Lancaster and had sworn to marry Elizabeth, came from France with an army and defeated Richard at the battle of Bosworth. And the average was getting worse: each of the last four had lost the crown; one of them, the hapless Henry VI, twice. He’s actually very noble by the end. And that’s what we wanted to do with Lizzie, we wanted to take it to its ultimate conclusion. Lizzie faces an impossible choice, and makes a risky move to try to eliminate the threat to her family. Dying in his infancy before he had a chance to be known, the prince has been largely disregarded by history. "In terms or pro-York or pro-Tudor I never once asked myself that question. Nevertheless, she persisted – it’s part of the whole mantra of what’s happening now politically and having to be brave. ", She added, "the audience who has come into this story and this journey and absolutely been on this side, really particularly rooted for them and identified with them, really for the love story, so much so that there was such an outpouring of grief when we had to do the time jump because a lot of the audience felt as though they’d been robbed of the love story.". ", "Of course it would be fantastic to fill the next chapter with this cast. I think Lizzie has found a very different door to the same ultimate decision. "The mini-series on Starz has told the story of Lizzie, more formally known as Elizabeth Of York, and Henry Tudor.Based on the adaptation of Philippa Gregory's novel of the same name, the show tells Gregory's views that Lizzie's brother Richard escaped death and returned to England as who would later be known as Perkin Warbeck. It's irritating to even have to defend it. BACK.". The York princesses are strategically married off to strengthen the Tudor cause. You're now subscribed to our newsletter. So, who was the king and how true are the accusations against him? As such, Richard III features heavily in much of the show’s action. There is a point early on in the miniseries where they decide to not just be pawns for their mothers, but to forge forth together, as their own family unit. You debate, Like father, like son: Richard Plantagenet and Richard III, Alexander the Great: all you need to know about the empire builder and military genius. There’s all sorts of amazing women’s lives which have just never been told. A pretender to the throne is held captive at court, confounding the Tudors, and creating a new rift in Lizzie and King Henry's marriage. Less charismatic than Henry VIII or Elizabeth, less tragic than Edward or Mary, he stands no realistic chance in a Most Famous Tudor competition. In the series, he is resentful of the duty that requires having to marry a woman who openly despises him, and is heavily influenced by his powerful mother, Margaret Beaufort. 8. They are so far back in history, and recorded history is the tales of things white men did," Frost said. Elizabeth [about Henry "capturing" the York women] Lizzie must deal with her mother's defiant defense of the York cause, while the appearance of a boy in Burgundy claiming to be a young prince threatens to further destabilize King Henry's rule. "The White Princess" charts one of the most tumultuous times in British history uniquely from the viewpoint of the women waging the battle for power. Elizabeth York, the niece of Richard III, is set to marry Henry Tudor after he defeats Richard on the battlefield. Cecily is displeased by this news for she was hastily married to a man beneath her rank in an effort to stop Henry claiming her as a potential bride and intends to have the marriage annulled to better her prospects now that they are to … "Maggie really is heroic," Frost said. "There are male viewers who have contacted me and told me how much they love the show. But it only goes to show his weakness if he stoops to bully girls. The probable murder of her brothers in the Tower of London in 1483 meant that, in the eyes of many, Elizabeth was the rightful queen of England. In fact, very clear evidence survives that proves beyond question that Richard did intend to remarry in 1485. The genre show stars Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Melody Hurd and Ryan Kwanten. The first Tudor monarch may not win many popularity contests, writes Steven Gunn, but the king set the blueprint for a dynasty that was to make England a global power. Her mother instilled in her a strong sense of personal destiny and family pride. Sure, there's romance, but so what? What Happened, Exactly? Meanwhile, unrest has been growing in Burgundy and spills over into an English battle. Portrayed by Jodie Comer in the series, Elizabeth of York played an important role in the Wars of the Roses and the early Tudor story. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. From Allison Keene, Dominique Fishback, Samuel L. Jackson to Star in Apple TV+ Limited Series From 'The White Tiger' Director Ramin Bahrani, 'League of Legends: Wild Rift' U.S. Open Beta Announced for Later This Month, 'WandaVision': Let's Break Down What Those Commercials Reveal About the Show's Mystery. But who were the key players in this story? Henry is the new King of England, and 'Lizzie' must marry him to ensure peace between their families. But men haven’t [...] and this is the perennial problem of female protagonists in drama, whether it’s TV drama or in movies. But one of my favorite aspects has been how the two are partners -- it's an underused dynamic in dramas. Based on the Philippa Gregory book of the same name, the story of Elizabeth of York, the White Queen's daughter, and her marriage to the Lancaster victor, Henry VII. And I think it’s time.". I hope people will be more interested to dig into history, and I know already from social media that tons of people have come to me to say, “Oh, I’m reading this, I’m looking at that, these books, Elizabeth of York or this book, or whoever it is [...] That is fantastic, though with the caveat that I always have to submit that it’s largely the story of white men doing white man things and you have to look much deeper to find the women’s history. "We’re just as tough as men, and in some cases even tougher. She’s making the decision to order execution. ... and creating a new rift in Lizzie and King Henry's marriage. Lizzie faces an impossible choice, and makes a risky move to try to eliminate the threat to her family. Two Kings. What’s more, his diplomats in Portugal were also seeking to arrange a second marriage there – between Richard’s illegitimate niece, Elizabeth, and a minor member of the Portuguese royal family!”, Elsewhere, Ashdown Hill also considers the charge that Richard III murdered the princes in the Tower: “There is no evidence that Edward of Westminster, Henry VI, the ‘princes in the Tower’ or Anne Neville were murdered by anyone. And also, it’s really rare that a female character is allowed to make these kinds of choices. [The Boy is] the reason, in some ways that she has no choice.". I think what Lizzie does is incredibly inspirational even when she makes very hard choices. Have you been engrossed in "The White Princess? To then have it be Lizzie who so coldly oversees his execution in the 11th hour to secure the Tudor throne ... Game of Thrones wishes it could create that ruthless of a moment. On The White Princess Season 1 Episode 7, a rift occurs in Lizzie and King Henry's marriage when she makes a risky move to try to eliminate a threat. When you’re protecting your kids, you will do anything. Elizabeth married Henry after his victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field, which marked the end of the Wars of the Roses.Together, they had seven children. The other option is to decide or convince herself that The Boy is not her brother," showrunner Emma Frost told me in a phone interview about the final episode. Elizabeth may have begun her reign as unsuitable and unpopular but in fact, she was the perfect embodiment of the beautiful, submissive, fertile queen – an archetype of medieval literature.”. She fell pregnant at 12, was widowed by the Wars of the Roses and almost died at the hands of Richard III. The White Princess leans into the story of Lizzie and Henry's relationship as a romance, and it's a beautifully complicated one. Elizabeth of York (11 February 1466 – 11 February 1503) was Queen of England from her marriage to King Henry VII on 18 January 1486 until her death. She may not have sought the limelight as much as some of her contemporaries, but Elizabeth of York was a Tudor of rare talent, writes Alison Weir. Lizzie brings them the news that Henry Tudor intends to honour his betrothal to Lizzie, making her the next queen of England. Thanks! ", She also mentioned wanting to tell the stories of women of color in history: "I would really passionately like to reclaim some of those stories," Frost added. For many fans, the exceptional performances of Collins-Levy (a newcomer and series stand-out) and Gibson (whose charisma convinced me of The Boy's claim) created a Tudor vs York rift. Henry Tudor. I hope that [The White Princess] will show male viewers that they absolutely can enjoy and engage with a story with a female protagonist. "Of course it would be fantastic to fill the next chapter with this cast. Assassinations: from the ancient world to JFK, Elizabeth of York: a Tudor of rare talent. Essie Davis plays the Dowager Queen Elizabeth in the series. The White Princess Season 1. The White Princess charts one of the most tumultuous times in British history from the point of view of the women waging the ongoing battle for the English throne. Obviously that’s completely untenable for Lizzie. Obviously no logical monarch would have sought to marry a bastard niece. The White Princess Season 1 Episodes. She brought no dowry or international connections, no territories or promise of diplomatic support. This is where the White Princess will begin. 'The White Princess' EP Emma Frost defends her choice to divert from Philippa Gregory's book and avoid rape in the series premiere's Henry-Lizzie sex scene. There are other fantastic love stories. It is well known that Henry VII and Elizabeth of York had two sons, Arthur and Henry. Lizzie dies before Henry does, and before Henry VIII takes the throne. Charting Margaret’s role in Henry’s rise to power – and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty – reveals the skill-set of one of the great political survivors of the late Middle Ages.”. And I can’t really think of any other examples where female characters are allowed to have the kind of journey that male characters do. For, in the face of huge obstacles and sometimes mortal peril, Margaret played the 15th-century game of power-politics with bravery and determination. I hope it will inspire women to have agency, I hope it will inspire young women in their own lives to be strong and courageous. The final episode left us with Lizzie (Jodie Comer) fully embracing her Tudor future with her husband, King Henry VII (Jacob Collins-Levy) and their sons. Drawn from the novel of the same name by Philippa Gregory, and part of The Cousins’ War book series, “The White Princess" sees England ostensibly united by the marriage of Elizabeth of York (Lizzie) and King Henry VII, but their personal and political rift runs deep and the war that rages between them threatens to tear the kingdom apart once again. But that is no reason to forget him. In the autumn of 1485, Cecily is living at Sheriff Hutton with her siblings and cousins as they await news of what will happen to them now that Henry Tudor is king. As incredible as these women have been, it still all comes down to one of two men being the true ruler of England: Henry or The Boy. A Boy who she can try to tell herself isn’t her brother and her cousin vs. her sons, her husband and half the men of the country.". There are also anti-heroes and compelling drama, complex political quandaries and maneuvers, military operations, and sweeping historical intrigue. Amy Licence: “While none could fault her personal charms, Elizabeth was considered an unacceptable choice for an English queen by most of Edward’s advisors. Elizabeth was intelligent and beautiful. The show also ramps up the emotional stakes by taking such a firm stance about The Boy being who he claims to be, and even knowing the history, the trajectory of the last few episodes feels very much like he will prevail. But still, it's Lizzie who must step up and make the decision, and act in a way her husband cannot. When King Henry finds himself back on the battlefield to protect his reign, Lizzie learns that the threats they face may be closer to home. The official website for BBC History Magazine and BBC History Revealed, Try 3 issues of BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed for only £5, The White Princess, a TV series based on Philippa Gregory's bestselling novel of the same name, dramatises the story of the women who battled for the English throne in the years following the Wars of the Roses. Please enter your number below. She didn’t do what she did because she was in a corner trying to protect the ones she loved, she did it for her own ambition, however she dresses it up. It’s a really robust thing to have to decide to execute members of your own family, characters that hopefully the audience will love at this point. Although he died before the historical events depicted in The White Princess, Richard III still casts a significant shadow over the drama. However, his chosen bride was the Portuguese princess Joana. Michael Jones: “Margaret’s father had died shortly before her first birthday and so she was brought up by her mother, Margaret Beauchamp. If you end up in a situation where the actors playing the parents are younger than the people playing their children, you pretty quickly get into a complicated dramatic aesthetic where you kinda of just go, 'Okay, does this actually work? Yet while Elizabeth and Henry’s marriage was a politically driven match, there’s evidence that “Henry clearly grew to love, trust and respect Elizabeth”. (Henry VII and Elizabeth of York are a much more functional Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister; mercifully, Lizzie doesn’t have a twin.) She continued, "[Women] are so used to identifying with male protagonists, because we’ve been brought up to identify with both male and female protagonists. She gave Henry the heir he needed, and he is over the moon about it. Summing up “The White Princess” Lizzie and Henry married after Henry forced Lizzie into a sexual intercourse to prove her fertility. Though their lives before 1485 could not have been more different, Henry and Elizabeth would be tossed together after Henry’s surprising victory at Bosworth made him King Henry VII. That’s what he wants to do, the right thing. ‘Lizzie’ is forced to choose between her new husband and a boy who could be her own blood and the rightful Yorkist king. After the finale, I spent a lot of time thinking about heroes, and the definition of a heroic act. Despite her young age, Margaret was bright and remarkably self-assured. In those very last moments, we see Lady Margaret (Michelle Fairley) lean over and try and equate Lizzie's actions with her own, where she is met with a resounding, "STEP. Even though I’m sure they’ll feel very torn on it as they did at the end of episode seven. The lost figure of the Bayeux Tapestry: where is Edgar Ætheling? Save up to 72% and get your first 3 issues for only £5! She may not have sought the limelight as much as some of her contemporaries, but Elizabeth of York was a Tudor of rare talent, writes Alison Weir. Unbeknownst to Margaret Beaufort, Elizabeth Woodville had her son Richard hidden and plotting to restore him on the throne. "She tries so hard to do everything right, nowhere along the line was there something she did that I would judge her for. However, the series suggests that despite the union between the two houses, personal and political rifts continued to run deep. '", Instead, Frost suggested, there are so many "similar stories in history, where women have similar moral, ethical, and emotional dilemmas [to those which] Lizzie has. Follow STARZ. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. And what’s interesting is they often at first feel a little shy about it, 'I know I’m not the target audience for this, but…'" Frost shared. Thank you for subscribing to HistoryExtra, you now have unlimited access. And, on 22 August 1485, her perseverance was rewarded when her son, Henry Tudor, defeated Richard III at the battle of Bosworth to become king. He managed to defeat Richard at the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485. "I know Elizabeth of York was supposed to have been a very loyal queen and wife. "She finally realizes no one is letting her brother out and she can’t stand it." That there was affection and tenderness between Henry and Elizabeth cannot be doubted.”. You hit the usual problem, the problem that we hit between The White Queen and The White Princess in fact, that you’re covering so many years historically, if you stay with the same cast you’re having to age them up. Henry tried again 1485, with the support of the Woodvilles and a promise to marry Elizabeth of York. THE WHITE PRINCESS is drawn from the novel of the same name by Philippa Gregory, and part of The Cousins' War book series, "The White Princess" sees England ostensibly united by the marriage of Princess Elizabeth of York (Lizzie) and King Henry VII, but their personal and political rift runs deep and the divide between them threatens to tear the kingdom apart once again. Starz's emotionally complex and morally complicated limited series The White Princess has finished, and my lingering thought is just why isn't there more?! 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The White Princess dramatises ‘Lizzie’s’ marriage to the first Tudor king Henry VII, her relationship with her mother the Dowager Queen Elizabeth, and her new mother-in-law, Margaret Beaufort.