London Times

Back to Character Menu                                                                                                                                                                    February 12, 1503

Beloved Queen Passes Away

By: T.L. Havill

Elizabeth of York tragically passed away yesterday on her thirty-seventh birthday February 11, 1503, while giving birth to her eighth child, Katherine, who joined Elizabeth in eternity.  Elizabeth is the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Elizabeth’s life got caught in the middle of the “War of Roses” and as a result she was betrayed and traumatized by Richard III, who had her brothers killed.  She was then used as a pawn in the war; Richard contemplated marrying his niece, but decided against it.  “His interest in Elizabeth was due in part to the knowledge that there was afoot a design to marry her to Henry Tudor.”[1]

Elizabeth’s life was influenced and ruled by her family and political obligations. She married Henry VII on January 18, 1486 as a way to unite the warring York and Lancaster families.   Despite the fact that her marriage to Henry was arranged for political reasons, the marriage was a happy and devoted one. Unfortunately, the same fortune did not extend to motherhood; she gave birth to eight children but only four survived childhood, Arthur, Margaret, Henry and Mary.  Queen Elizabeth will be laid to rest at the Westminster Abbey chapel that is being constructed by her loving husband.