Shakespeare’s Richard III - Queen Elizabeth

Part of EnglishRichard III

Key points

  • Queen Elizabeth is a character in Richard III, a history play by English playwright William Shakespeare.

  • She is married to King Edward IV, who has taken the English throne after winning a key battle in the Wars of the Roses.

  • Richard, Queen Elizabeth’s brother-in-law, plots to become king and murders many members of Queen Elizabeth’s family.

Did you know?

Queen Elizabeth’s marriage to King Edward IV is controversial. Although Queen Elizabeth came from the upper-class Woodville family, her social status was not considered high enough to become a queen. Richard uses this to criticise Queen Elizabeth and her family and to encourage conflict in the royal court.

Images of a quill and ink pot, purple question mark and William Shakespeare above an open book.
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Plot summary

The infographic is a plot summary timeline consisting of nine images connected by a red ribbon that show the events of Richard III. The first image is of a white rose next to a broken red rose which symbolises the House of York beating the House of Lancaster. In the second image Richard and Lady Anne stand next to each other. Richard has his arms around her but Lady Anne is crying. In the third image Queen Margaret holds a skull and brandishes her other hand, which has sparks coming out of it. She looks very angry. The fourth image is of a grave with King Edward IV written on it. The fifth image shows the two princes, young blond boys, trapped behind the bars of a cell in a tower. The fifth image shows Richard sat on a throne with a crown on his head. The sixth image shows Buckingham looking distressed behind the bars of a jail carriage. The eighth image shows Richard lying down in a tent while green ghosts swirl around him. The final image shows Richmond looking happily at his new wife, the Princess Elizabeth. Richmond has a crown on his head.
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Queen Elizabeth’s key moments

Click through the slideshow to see Queen Elizabeth’s key moments

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  1. Queen Elizabeth, who has red hair and is wearing a black dress, sits on a bench next to the Marquis of Dorset and Earl Rivers. The three of them are looking up at Richard, who is stood to the side of them wearing a black suit

    These images are taken from a 2016 production of Richard III starring Ralph Fiennes as Richard and Aislín McGuckin as Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth is married to the king, Edward IV. There are conflicts within the royal court and some of the nobility resent Elizabeth’s influence.

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Character traits

Queen Elizabeth II stands in the middle of a wood-panelled, candlelit room. She is wearing a grand red dress and a golden crown in her grey, curly hair. She is holding a family portrait.

Strong

Queen Elizabeth is a strong character who stands up to Richard and confronts him about his crimes. She is also a confident and intelligent character who is able to match Richard’s sharp wit.

A male actor stands on stage wearing a Tudor-style dress with a large lacy white collar and a red-haired wig in a curly up do.
Actor Samuel Barnett as Queen Elizabeth in an all-male 2012 production of the play

Vulnerable

Queen Elizabeth is left vulnerable when her husband, King Edward IV, dies. When Richard is given the role of Lord Protector, he has influence and power over Queen Elizabeth and her family. As a widow, she has very little power to stop Richard’s villainous plans to murder her family.

Protective

Queen Elizabeth knows that Richard is her enemy, and she tries to protect her sons and family. However, she underestimates Richard’s evil nature and is not able to save her two young sons. She can protect her daughter by leading Richard to believe she’s agreeing to their marriage, but secretly promising her daughter to Richmond.

A male actor stands on stage wearing a Tudor-style dress with a large lacy white collar and a red-haired wig in a curly up do.
Actor Samuel Barnett as Queen Elizabeth in an all-male 2012 production of the play
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Relationships

Family

Before her marriage to King Edward IV, Queen Elizabeth was married to Lord Grey. Queen Elizabeth is supported at court by her two sons from this first marriage, the Marquis of Dorset and Lord Grey, and also her brother Earl Rivers.

Queen Elizabeth’s children with King Edward IV include Prince Edward, Richard, Duke of York and Princess Elizabeth.

Prince Edward is the heir to the throne but is considered too young to rule when his father dies. Richard, his uncle, is named Lord Protector and has the power to rule until Prince Edward – now King Edward V – is old enough to rule.

Queen Elizabeth is in the middle of the infographic in a white circle. Images of the Duchess of York, Earl Rivers, the Marquis of Dorset and Lord Grey are in blue circles connected to her by blue lines to show that they are all family members. Lady Anne is connected to Queen Elizabeth with a green line, showing that they are friends. Richard is connected to Queen Elizabeth with a red line, to show that they are enemies.

Enemies

There is conflict in the royal court as some noblemen resent the power given to Queen Elizabeth’s brother and her sons from her first marriage. Elizabeth has used her influence to make sure her family have high-ranking positions.

Richard hates Queen Elizabeth and her family and accuses her of having his brother Clarence imprisoned. Richard is also jealous of the influence Queen Elizabeth has over her husband, King Edward IV.

What is Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with the other women at court?

Lady Anne is sat down looking up at the Duchess of York and Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth is smiling at Lady Anne.
From left to right, Jill Dixon as Lady Anne, Esme Church as the Duchess of York and Elizabeth Sellars as Queen Elizabeth in a 1961 production of the play

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Changes in character

On the left hand side of the infographic Queen Elizabeth is holding up her hands as if in prayer with a devastated expression on her face. In the middle is a family portrait of her children. On the right hand side of the infographic Queen Elizabeth is holding her hand to her chin with one eyebrow raised.

In the royal court, a queen would often lose her power when the king died. Although Queen Elizabeth had influence and power as queen, as a widow she is powerless. She is worried that her children are in danger and in the end she is unable to save some of them.

Richard, who is wearing a crown and a bright yellow doublet, stands above Queen Elizabeth, who is clasping her hands together and has a sad expression on her face.
Mark Rylance as Richard and Samuel Barnett as Queen Elizabeth in a 2012 production of the play

Before King Edward IV dies, Queen Elizabeth knows that Richard is her enemy, but she doesn’t fully realise what he is capable of. After the king’s death, Richard is made Lord Protector and uses his new influence to have Queen Elizabeth’s family and supporters killed.

At first, Queen Elizabeth makes her feelings about Richard clear, but then she learns to hide her hatred. After arguing with him, she pretends to agree to let him marry her daughter, his niece Princess Elizabeth. Instead, she promises her daughter to Richard’s enemy, Richmond, and plots Richard’s downfall.

Richard, who is wearing a crown and a bright yellow doublet, stands above Queen Elizabeth, who is clasping her hands together and has a sad expression on her face.
Mark Rylance as Richard and Samuel Barnett as Queen Elizabeth in a 2012 production of the play
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Activity - Order it

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What do these key quotations mean?

I fear our happiness is at the height.

Queen Elizabeth
Act 1, scene 3

Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre. I see, as in a map, the end of all.

Queen Elizabeth
Act 2, scene 4

Death and destruction dogs thee at thy heels;
Thy mother’s name is ominous to children.

Queen Elizabeth
Act 4, scene 1

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Listen to a scene

Listen to this audio clip from Act 4, scene 1. Queen Elizabeth is distressed that she is being kept from seeing her sons, the two princes. They have been locked in the Tower of London by Richard.

What literary device does Queen Elizabeth use to describe the Tower of London?

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Test your knowledge

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GCSE exam dates 2025

Find out everything you need to know about the 2025 GCSE exams including dates, timetables and changes to exams to get your revision in shape.

GCSE exam dates 2025
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