In 1463, the lust between a Lancastrian commoner and Yorkist King turns into a secret wedding and a new Queen of England. But two women not so smitten with the arrangement vow to take her down.

The pregnant Elizabeth is crowned queen and welcomed by Edward's brothers Richard and George though Warwick and his daughters do not disguise their disapproval and Cecily refuses to attend the coronation. Warwick is especially aggrieved that the king is neglecting a peace treaty with France and entertaining the Duke of Burgundy, a relation of Elizabeth and enemy to the French king. As it becomes clear that Warwick intends to make himself powerful Edward gives key posts at court to Baron Rivers and his sons, which also enrages Margaret Beaufort,whose young son Henry Tudor has had to forfeit a title to the Rivers family. Margaret is also angry when Warwick captures the deposed fugitive former king Henry and Edward imprisons him. As a reward Warwick asks that his daughters are betrothed to the king's brothers but the request is denied. When Elizabeth gives birth to a daughter, rather than an heir, Warwick is delighted and organizes a rebellion, incarcerating Edward, Elizabeth and Jacquetta and killing Rivers and his sons, putting George forward as his new protégé. Elizabeth swears vengeance in blood.

1470:- George returns to fight with his brothers, to the chagrin of Warwick, who moves the decrepit Henry VI into the tower of London for his protection whilst Jasper Tudor escorts his nephew Henry to Wales for safety. The possessed Lady Beaufort is angry that her husband Stafford chooses to fight for Edward, seeing him as the lesser of two evils, but both Stafford and Warwick are slain at the battle of Barnet. Edward rides to meet Margaret of Anjou, who has the nervous Anne Neville in her company, and he defeats Margaret and Jasper at the battle of Tewkesbury. Richard of Gloucester exiles Margaret, having rescued Anne from would-be rapists. The Yorkists celebrate their victory though Elizabeth is shocked to stumble upon her family's nocturnal activities.

Having witnessed the murder of Henry VI the pregnant Elizabeth is again shocked when she discovers her husband having sex with courtier Jane Shore. Her isolation is increased as Jacquetta falls dangerously ill and, aware of George's dislike of her, she appoints Anthony as her sons' guardian. Also wary of George is Anne Neville, pardoned by Edward for her part in the revolt and reunited with Isabel at court. However Anne is upset that she is not allowed to contact her mother in exile and feels that George and Isabel are controlling her every move. She has one ally in Richard and is unhappy to learn that he is considering marriage to Margaret Beaufort to effect peace. However he proposes to Anne, declaring that he loves her, and she accepts. Edward approves of the match as Elizabeth's new baby son is born.

Aware of his antagonists Richard rewards those whom he believes can serve him, including Stanley, the duke of Buckingham and Thomas Brackenbury. Anne visits Brackenbury behind her husband's back, expressing her fear that his throne will not be safe as long as the princes in the tower are alive. Elizabeth, fearing for the boys' safety, accepts an offer of help to rescue them by Margaret, whose son Henry is now betrothed to Elizabeth's daughter Lizzie. However the attempt fails and, learning that the boys are dead, Elizabeth believes that she was double-crossed by Margaret in her ambition to see Henry crowned king. In fact Margaret and her kinsman Buckingham lead a rebellion against Richard but it fails, due to a torrential rain-storm magically evoked by Elizabeth. Buckingham is executed whilst Stanley, who betrayed his wife's part in the revolt, is awarded her lands as she is arrested and exiled. Anne believes Brackenbury had the boys murdered and she and Richard are alarmed by rumours accusing him of organizing the crime. Richard visits Elizabeth and expresses feelings for Lizzie but she tells her mother that she has no wish to be used as a political pawn.

Queen Anne's health is deteriorating and the death of her sickly son Edward and the knowledge that her husband loves Lizzie do not help her situation. She ends her feud with Elizabeth ,assuring her that she was not responsible for the deaths of the two boys and soon afterwards, following an eclipse, she dies. Elizabeth and her daughters are released from sanctuary and return to the court where Lizzie reciprocates Richard's feelings for her. However she is betrothed to marry the dour Henry Tudor, not a match she relishes. Henry effects his rebellion - with Stanley now amongst his supporters - and at the Battle of Bosworth Field kills Richard, releasing his mother from her house arrest. Margaret thanks God that her son is declared king, a fact she had always known would happen, whilst Elizabeth, formerly a queen is now a queen mother, her daughter the White Princess.