<P> The series is set against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses and presents the story of the women involved in the long conflict for the throne of England . It starts in 1464; the nation has been at war for nine years fighting over who is the rightful King as two sides of the same family, the House of York and the House of Lancaster contest the throne . The story follows three women, Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville, manipulate events behind the scenes of history to gain power . Elizabeth Woodville is the protagonist in the novel The White Queen and Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville are the focus of the novels The Red Queen and The Kingmaker's Daughter; the three characters appear in the three novels that make up the television series . </P> <P> The final episode of The White Queen was aired on 18 August 2013 and the series was released on DVD and Blu - ray Disc the following day . Two days later, it was confirmed that The White Queen would not be returning for a second series . In a statement to Broadcast, the BBC stated that the show was always planned as a one - season series . In October 2013, The Telegraph reported that Starz planned to develop a sequel miniseries called The White Princess, based on Gregory's 2013 novel of the same name . Gregory confirmed that the project was underway in August 2015 . On 7 February 2016, Gregory announced on Facebook that the sequel was officially confirmed to be in production, with the scripts being written . The White Queen was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards and a People's Choice Award . </P> <Ul> <Li> Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville, the "White Queen" and consort to Edward IV </Li> <Li> Max Irons as Edward IV of England </Li> <Li> Faye Marsay as Lady Anne Neville, "the Kingmaker's Daughter" and queen consort to Richard III </Li> <Li> Aneurin Barnard as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III; brother of Edward IV </Li> <Li> James Frain as Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, "the Kingmaker", a great - grandson of John, Duke of Lancaster </Li> <Li> Janet McTeer as Jacquetta, Lady Rivers, Elizabeth Woodville's mother </Li> <Li> David Oakes as George, Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV </Li> <Li> Eleanor Tomlinson as Lady Isabel Neville, Duchess of Clarence, wife of George, Duke of Clarence and elder sister of Lady Anne Neville </Li> <Li> Juliet Aubrey as Lady Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick, wife of Warwick and mother to Lady Isabel and Lady Anne; herself a great - granddaughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York </Li> <Li> Caroline Goodall as Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, a granddaughter of John, Duke of Lancaster </Li> <Li> Sonny Ashbourne Serkis as the Prince of Wales (later King Edward V), eldest son and heir to Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville; later one of the Princes in the Tower </Li> <Li> Freya Mavor as Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter and child to Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville </Li> <Li> Elinor Crawley as Cecily of York, daughter to Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville </Li> </Ul> <Li> Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville, the "White Queen" and consort to Edward IV </Li>

Who played princess elizabeth in the white queen