Today I’m telling the often forgotten story of Katherine of York, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, sister to Elizabeth of York and the Princes in the Tower, and aunt to Henry VIII.
Katherine’s life began in splendour—once betrothed to a Spanish prince, raised at the glittering Yorkist court—but her future was derailed by scandal, political shifts, and personal loss. Declared illegitimate by her uncle Richard III, she was forced into sanctuary with her mother and siblings… but would go on to serve her queenly sister, stand as chief mourner at a royal funeral, and quietly manage vast estates in Devon.
In this video, I’ll explore:
- Her royal childhood and broken Spanish marriage alliance
- The impact of Richard III’s rise to power
- Her marriage to the Earl of Devon and her son’s tragic fate
- Why she took a vow of chastity — and withdrew from court
- And how she styled herself “the excellent Princess Katherine, daughter, sister and aunt of kings”
Katherine of York never wore a crown, but she was at the very heart of Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties — living through regime change, rebellion, and royal funerals.
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