Biography

Elizabeth Woodville was the eldest daughter of Richard, 1st Earl Rivers. She married Sir John Grey with whom she had sons Thomas and Richard and was a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Margaret. She then secretly married Edward IV on May 1, 1464. Elizabeth and Richard had two children, Edward V and Richard of York, and five daughters. Before his marriage to Elizabeth, Edward was said to have been contracted to Lady Eleanor Butler. Richard III argued that this made his children by Elizabeth Woodville illegitimate.