The tragic mystery of the Princes in the Tower has long captured the imagination of historians, dramatists, and the public alike. The two young sons of King Edward IV—Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York—disappeared under suspicious circumstances in 1483. Theories abound as to who was responsible for their deaths, and among the most controversial figures linked to this dark chapter of English history is Margaret of Anjou, the widow of King Henry VI and the mother of the ill-fated Prince Edward, who was killed in battle in 1471. Margaret’s involvement, whether direct or indirect, in the murder of the two young princes has been the subject of debate for centuries.

The Princes in the Tower: A Brief Overview

Edward V, the elder of the two princes, was only twelve years old when his father, Edward IV, died in April 1483. His younger brother, Richard of York, was about nine. With their father’s death, the throne was left in the hands of the young Edward, under the guardianship of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who later became Richard III.

The princes were lodged in the Tower of London, a royal residence and fortress, where they were ostensibly kept safe. However, shortly after being placed there, they disappeared. They were last seen in the summer of 1483, and by 1484, they were presumed dead. Their bodies were never definitively found, and the circumstances of their deaths remain a subject of enduring mystery.

Margaret of Anjou: A Background

Margaret of Anjou was born in 1430 as the daughter of René of Anjou and Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine. She married Henry VI of England in 1445, and together they had a son, Prince Edward, who became the focal point of the Lancastrian cause during the Wars of the Roses. Following the deposition of her husband in 1461 by the Yorkists, Margaret became the leader of the Lancastrian faction, fiercely resisting the Yorkist claim to the throne.

After her husband's death in 1471, Margaret remained a powerful figure, seeking to restore her son to the throne. However, Prince Edward was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471, leaving Margaret devastated and without a direct claim to the throne. She spent her remaining years in relative obscurity, living in France and occasionally involving herself in the politics of England, but never again holding the political influence she had during the height of the Wars of the Roses.h shutdown123