Ep 4. The Pretender

In the fourth episode of The White Princess season 1, titled "The Pretender," tensions between the newly married Henry VII and his wife Elizabeth of York continue to rise as secrets and betrayals come to light.

As Henry prepares for his coronation, a pretender to the throne named Perkin Warbeck arrives on English shores, claiming to be Richard, Duke of York, the younger of Elizabeth's two brothers supposedly murdered in the Tower of London years before. Warbeck's arrival causes chaos and uncertainty among the court, with some believing him to be the true heir to the throne and others dismissing him as a fraud.

Elizabeth finds herself torn between loyalty to her husband and her own doubts about Warbeck's identity. Meanwhile, Margaret Beaufort, Henry's mother, sets out to prove that the pretender is indeed a fraud and enlists the help of her spy network to expose the truth.

The tension rises as Warbeck gains support from some of the York loyalists, including Elizabeth's own mother. Henry's hold on the throne is threatened, and he must take drastic measures to maintain his power, including imprisoning Elizabeth's cousin and childhood friend, Teddy Plantagenet.

As the episode unfolds, Elizabeth must navigate the dangerous political landscape and decide where her loyalties truly lie. Will she stand by her husband and denounce Warbeck as a pretender, or will she join forces with her mother and the York loyalists to fight for a different king? The Pretender sets the stage for a thrilling and dramatic season ahead.