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The White Queen is a 10-episode 2013 historical drama about the Wars of the Roses, and it remains a lush, addictive binge for fans of royal intrigue. Few period dramas pack as much scheming, romance, and royal backstabbing into ten hours as The White Queen. The 2013 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Starz coproduction drops you into the Wars of the Roses, the bloody 15th-century fight between the houses of York and Lancaster for the English crown. This The White Queen review covers the story, the cast, the history behind it, where to stream it today, and the two sequel series that continue the saga.
Quick verdict: The White Queen is a lush, addictive historical soap with a star-making turn from Rebecca Ferguson. It bends history and sometimes rushes its story, but fans of royal intrigue will binge it happily. Check The White Queen DVD and Blu-ray price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: A 10-episode 2013 BBC and Starz drama about the Wars of the Roses, based on three Philippa Gregory novels and led by Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville.
- Where to watch: As of November 2026, it streams in the US on Starz, including the Starz channel on Peacock and Prime Video, and you can also buy it digitally or on disc.
- Critic scores: 80% on Rotten Tomatoes (20 reviews) and 70 on Metacritic (14 critics), as of November 2026.
- Strengths and weaknesses: Rebecca Ferguson’s Golden Globe-nominated performance and the lavish production outweigh rushed pacing and loose history.
- Sequels: Starz continued the story with The White Princess (2017) and The Spanish Princess (2019 to 2020).
The White Queen at a glance
| Detail | The White Queen |
|---|---|
| Premiere | June 16, 2013, on BBC One (UK); August 10, 2013, on Starz (US) |
| Where to watch now | Starz (including the Starz add-on for Peacock and other channel stores); digital purchase on major stores |
| Based on | Philippa Gregory’s novels The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Kingmaker’s Daughter |
| Lead writer | Emma Frost |
| Main cast | Rebecca Ferguson, Max Irons, Amanda Hale, Faye Marsay, Janet McTeer, Aneurin Barnard |
| Episodes | 10 episodes of about one hour each (one season, planned as a miniseries) |
| Rating | TV-MA (mature audiences) on US streaming |
| Critic scores | 80% on Rotten Tomatoes (20 reviews); 70 on Metacritic (14 critics), as of November 2026 |
Details come from Rotten Tomatoes, Peacock’s listing, and Philippa Gregory’s official site.
What is The White Queen about?
The story opens in 1464. Elizabeth Woodville (Rebecca Ferguson), a widow from a Lancastrian family, waits by the roadside to plead with the young Yorkist king, Edward IV (Max Irons), for her sons’ inheritance. He falls for her on the spot, and they marry in secret. That choice outrages Edward’s powerful mentor, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (James Frain), known as the Kingmaker, and sets off two decades of rebellion, betrayal, and murder.
The series follows three women whose fortunes rise and fall with the crown. Elizabeth fights to protect her children and her family’s power. Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale), a devout Lancastrian, schemes to put her son Henry Tudor on the throne. Anne Neville (Faye Marsay), Warwick’s daughter, becomes a pawn in her father’s plans before she claims a crown of her own. Their stories run all the way to the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 and the start of the Tudor dynasty.
Instead of compressing one book, the show weaves together three of Gregory’s novels from her Cousins’ War series, one for each heroine. That approach gives you three viewpoints on the same events, which keeps the politics easy to follow.
Performances and chemistry
Rebecca Ferguson carries the series. Her Elizabeth moves from a nervous widow to a ruthless political survivor, and she makes both versions believable. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination, and it launched her international career, which later included Mission: Impossible, Dune, and Silo.
Max Irons gives Edward IV real charm, and his romance with Elizabeth feels passionate enough to explain why a king would risk his throne for it. Janet McTeer steals scenes as Elizabeth’s mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, a shrewd matriarch whom the show portrays as a practitioner of folk magic. McTeer also earned a Golden Globe nomination. Aneurin Barnard plays Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III), as a loyal and conflicted brother rather than Shakespeare’s hunchbacked villain, which ranks among the show’s most interesting choices. Amanda Hale makes Margaret Beaufort fascinating and unsettling, and Caroline Goodall adds steel as Edward’s mother, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York.
Production and look
The production filmed in Belgium rather than England, using medieval towns and buildings around Bruges, including Damme, plus sets built inside a former factory. The result looks rich, with candlelit chambers, stone courtyards, and elaborate gowns. Historians and critics did point out anachronisms, though: some costumes and hairstyles look modern, and The Daily Telegraph noted that the Battle of Bosworth seems to unfold in a forest rather than on open ground.
The series earned three Golden Globe nominations in 2014: Best Miniseries or Television Film, Best Actress for Ferguson, and Best Supporting Actress for McTeer.
How accurate is The White Queen?
Treat the show as historical fiction. Gregory says her novels offer her own interpretation of events, not a documentary, and the series follows suit. It adds witchcraft, tightens timelines, and takes a firm position on the mystery of the Princes in the Tower, the two young sons of Edward IV who vanished in 1483. Historian Michael Hicks praised the research while noting the altered chronology. If the show sparks your interest, Gregory’s novels and nonfiction histories of the period fill in what the series skips.
Pacing and weaknesses
Squeezing about 30 years of history into ten episodes forces big time jumps, and some critics felt that flattened characters into heroes and villains. Margaret Beaufort’s arc and Anne Neville’s later years feel especially rushed. The dialogue occasionally sounds too modern, and the soap opera tone won’t suit viewers who want the grit of Wolf Hall. Still, cliffhangers close nearly every episode, and the brisk pace makes it an easy binge.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A breakout performance from Rebecca Ferguson
- Three strong female viewpoints on a famous conflict
- Lavish sets and costumes
- Tight ten-episode run with plenty of cliffhangers
- Two sequel series continue the story
Cons
- Loose with historical facts and timelines
- Some subplots feel rushed
- Occasionally modern dialogue and costumes
- Streaming access requires Starz or a purchase
Where to watch The White Queen in 2026
As of November 2026, The White Queen streams in the US on Starz, which you can subscribe to directly or add as a channel through services such as Peacock and Prime Video. You can also buy the series digitally on stores like Prime Video and Apple TV, or pick up the DVD. Streaming rights change often, so check your service before you start. Our guide to the best streaming service can help you choose a plan, and a streaming stick like the Fire TV Cube puts Starz on any television.
The sequels: The White Princess and The Spanish Princess
The BBC always planned The White Queen as a single miniseries, but Starz continued the story on its own:
- The White Princess (2017): An eight-episode Starz miniseries starring Jodie Comer as Elizabeth of York, Elizabeth Woodville’s daughter, who marries Henry VII (Jacob Collins-Levy) to unite the warring houses. Essie Davis takes over as Elizabeth Woodville, and Michelle Fairley plays Margaret Beaufort.
- The Spanish Princess (2019 to 2020): A two-season Starz series starring Charlotte Hope as Catherine of Aragon, who marries Prince Arthur and later Henry VIII. Its finale aired on November 29, 2020.
Watch all three in order for a full story that runs from Edward IV’s secret wedding to the early reign of Henry VIII. Both sequels also stream on Starz in the US.
The White Queen on disc and in print
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries the series on disc, the Philippa Gregory novels behind it, and the sequel series.
Shop related picks on Amazon
| Product | Format | What you get | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The White Queen (complete series) | Digital versatile disc (DVD) or Blu-ray | All 10 episodes | Owning the series without a subscription | Check price |
| The White Queen by Philippa Gregory | Paperback, Kindle, audiobook | Elizabeth Woodville’s story | Readers who want more depth | Check price |
| The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory | Paperback, Kindle, audiobook | Margaret Beaufort’s story | Fans of the Lancastrian side | Check price |
| The Kingmaker’s Daughter by Philippa Gregory | Paperback, Kindle, audiobook | Anne Neville’s story | Fans of Anne’s storyline | Check price |
| The White Princess (miniseries) | DVD or Blu-ray | The direct sequel | Continuing the saga | Check price |
- The novels: Gregory’s Cousins’ War series also includes The Lady of the Rivers, about Jacquetta, and The White Princess. See the Cousins War books on Amazon.
- The Spanish Princess: Fans who finish both miniseries can keep going with Catherine of Aragon’s story. See The Spanish Princess on Amazon.
Who should watch The White Queen?
Watch it if you enjoy royal dramas like The Tudors, Reign, or The Crown, or if you want the real history that inspired parts of Game of Thrones. It also suits viewers who prefer character drama and romance to battle scenes. Skip it if historical accuracy matters more to you than entertainment. For more royal intrigue on this site, see our House of the Dragon season 1 review.
Frequently asked questions
Is The White Queen based on a true story?
Yes, The White Queen is loosely based on a true story. Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV, Margaret Beaufort, Anne Neville, and Richard III were real people, and the major events happened. The show adds fictional details, magic, and invented dialogue.
How many seasons of The White Queen are there?
The White Queen has just one season of ten episodes. The story continues in The White Princess (2017) and The Spanish Princess (2019 to 2020).
Do I need to watch The White Queen before The White Princess?
It helps to watch The White Queen before The White Princess. The White Princess picks up right after Bosworth and recasts several characters, so the first series gives you the background on the feuding families.
Is The White Queen suitable for teens?
The White Queen carries a TV-MA (mature audiences) rating on US streaming because of sex scenes, nudity, and violence, so it suits older teens and adults.
Final verdict
The White Queen remains one of the most bingeable royal dramas of the last decade. Rebecca Ferguson’s performance, the gorgeous production, and a story told through three ambitious women outweigh its rushed pacing and historical liberties. Watch it, then continue with The White Princess and The Spanish Princess. Rating: 4 out of 5. Check The White Queen price on Amazon.