If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Starz or BBC lately, you’ve probably stumbled upon the 2013 hit The White Queen. It’s gorgeous. It’s gritty. It has Rebecca Ferguson looking ethereal under an oak tree. But honestly, most of what we think we know about this era from the show is a messy blur of fact and "Philippa Gregory magic."
History isn't usually that clean.
The show follows Elizabeth Woodville, a widow who catches the eye of King Edward IV. It's essentially a 15th-century soap opera with higher stakes—like, "lose your head" stakes. People love it because it puts women at the center of the War of the Roses, a time usually dominated by guys in clanking armor. But if you're watching it to pass a history exam? You might want to rethink that.
The White Queen and the Myth of the Oak Tree
Let’s talk about that first meeting. In the show, Elizabeth stands under an oak tree with her two sons, waiting to petition the King. It’s romantic. It’s destiny.
In reality? Edward IV was actually already on pretty good terms with her parents. Her family were Lancastrians (the "Red Rose" losers at the time), but the King had already given them money. The "chance meeting" was likely a calculated move by a very savvy family. Elizabeth wasn't just a passive beauty; she was part of a Woodville machine that knew exactly how to play the game.
And that secret marriage? Totally real.
Edward IV was a bit of a serial proposer. He had a habit of promising marriage to widows to get them into bed. Most of them fell for it. Elizabeth Woodville didn't. She reportedly held a dagger to her own throat—or his, depending on which rumor you believe—and said "marriage or nothing."
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He chose marriage. It blew up the political landscape.
Did Elizabeth Woodville Actually Use Magic?
This is where the show gets weird. Melusine, the water goddess, and the literal "conjuring of storms" make for great TV. But did the real Elizabeth believe she was a witch?
Probably not in the way the show depicts.
However, her enemies definitely used those rumors against her. In the 1400s, if a commoner widow managed to snag a King, people didn't say "oh, she has a great personality." They said "she must have enchanted him."
- The Propaganda: Richard III later used these witchcraft claims to declare her marriage invalid.
- The Reality: It was a political tool to turn the public against the Woodvilles, who were seen as social climbers.
- The Show’s Take: It treats the magic as somewhat "real," which creates a fantasy vibe that isn't historically grounded but definitely keeps you watching.
The Princes in the Tower: The Mystery That Won't Die
You can’t talk about The White Queen without the heartbreaking disappearance of the two princes.
The show leans heavily into the theory that Elizabeth switched one of her sons with a commoner boy to save him. This is a popular "what if" in historical fiction. But in the actual records of 1483, the boys simply vanished.
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There are no bones. No confirmed death warrants. Just a lot of finger-pointing.
Most historians look at Richard III. He had the most to gain. But the show introduces us to Margaret Beaufort—played with terrifying intensity by Amanda Hale—as a potential culprit. Margaret was the mother of Henry Tudor (the future Henry VII). If the Yorkist princes were dead, her son’s path to the throne was much clearer.
It’s a "Who-Done-It" that has lasted over 500 years. Honestly, we’ll probably never know the truth.
Why the Costumes and Sets Feel... Off
If you’re a history nerd, you probably noticed the zippers. Or the lack of hats.
The production was filmed in Belgium to get that authentic medieval feel, but the styling is very "2013." In the 15th century, women always wore their hair up and covered in public unless they were being crowned. In the show? Hair everywhere. Flowing locks in the mud.
Also, those red brick houses in the background? Very Belgian. Not very English for that time period.
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What to Watch After the Credits Roll
If you finished the 10 episodes and want to know what happens next, don't just stop. The story is a trilogy of sorts on screen.
- The White Princess: Follows Elizabeth’s daughter (Elizabeth of York) and her marriage to Henry VII. It stars a young Jodie Comer.
- The Spanish Princess: Focuses on Catherine of Aragon. It’s much more stylized and takes even more liberties, but it completes the "Tudor rise" arc.
The real takeaway from The White Queen isn't the accuracy of the thread count on the dresses. It’s the shift in perspective. For centuries, Elizabeth Woodville was dismissed as a "cold" or "greedy" woman. The series gives her agency. It shows her as a mother trying to keep her kids alive in a world that wanted them dead.
That part? That’s probably the most accurate thing about it.
To get a better handle on the real history, you should check out the documentary The Real White Queen and Her Rivals. It’s narrated by Philippa Gregory herself, but she sticks closer to the archives than she does in her novels. If you want to see where the bodies are actually buried (or not buried), start with the records of the Richard III Society; they’ve spent decades trying to clear his name regarding the princes.
Lastly, if you're visiting the UK, a trip to Westminster Abbey's sanctuary area is a must. It’s where the real Elizabeth hid while the world outside fell apart. Seeing the physical space makes the drama feel a lot less like a TV show and a lot more like a lived tragedy.