Elizabeth Woodville was born at Grafton Regis, in Northamptonshire in 1437.      She was the first child of Sir Richard Woodville (later the first Earl Rivers) and Jaquetta of Luxembourg. She was a maid of honour to Margaret of Anjou. Her first marriage was to Sir John Grey of Groby (died in battle 1461). She secretly married King Edward IV of England in April 1464, here in Grafton Regis, and was crowned Queen in May 1465. Elizabeth Woodville  Elizabeth Woodville holds a unique place in English history, because of her close relationship and influence over so many kings. She was married to King Edward IV, mother to the short-reigning Edward V, sister-in-law to Richard III, mother-in-law to Henry VII, and grandmother to Henry VIII. Acting always in the background, her powerful personality shaped many events in the troubled England of the 1470s and 1480s.

Edward IV was clearly overcome by Elizabeth's renowned beauty and charm, and on May Day 1464 he secretly married Elizabeth at Grafton Regis. This marriage to the widow of one his enemies caused great annoyance to Edward's supporters, chiefly the mighty Earl of Warwick ('Warwick the Kingmaker'), whose large numbers of soldiers had been instrumental in getting Edward on to the throne to begin with. Warwick had been negotiating a marriage between Edward and the King of France's daughter when Edward and Elizabeth married. Elizabeth's own Woodville family was sizeable, and through Elizabeth's growing influence her brothers soon scooped up titles and postions of state whilst her sisters married the principal nobles of England. Great resentment at the growing power of Elizabeth and her family was felt by Warwick, and also King Edward's younger brother Richard the Duke of Gloucester. Warwick finally turned against Edward and was killed fighting the Yorkists at the Battle of Barnet in 1471.

Grafton Regis Church, The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin

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