26th November 2013
I am often asked if I think Elizabeth of York and Richard III were involved in a romantic relationship, and if I think Richard would have married Elizabeth had he won at Bosworth. We don't know if they were having a fully active affair but we know that there was so much gossip about their relationship that there were rumours that Richard had poisoned his wife Anne, who died suddenly. A letter (now lost) was recorded by the historian George Buck from Elizabeth of York to the Duke of Norfolk which seems to suggest that she was hoping that the Duke would promote the marriage as she was 'his heart and soul and all'. After the death of his wife Richard was persuaded to publicly announce that he had no intention of marrying his niece Elizabeth - which of course, suggests that this was widely believed.
There were no laws against incest as we have them now, and no anxiety about in-breeding. A dispensation for an uncle and niece could have been granted by the Pope and this would not have been regarded as too problematic. If Richard did not kill the princes in the Tower then Elizabeth's possible love for him is more understandable, given their closeness in age and intimacy at court. His attraction to her might have been based on her famous beauty or perhaps that a connection with her would satisfy the Woodvilles and the party for the princes - splitting them off from the Tudor rebels.
So on evidence - we don't have anything certain, but I think the balance of probability is with the Richard/Elizabeth connection, possibly a secret betrothal, possibly a love affair.