Richard, Duke of York, takes the throne of England but when confronted by King Henry VI he agrees that he will not take the crown and will leave Henry in peace if his own family are named as the rightful heirs to the throne. Queen Margaret is furious as her weak husband King Henry VI has thus disinherited their own son, Edward, Prince of Wales. The sons of York berate their father for not taking the throne for himself. York goes back on his agreement with King Henry and once again attempts to seize the crown and become King. Margaret raises an army and fights a battle with York at Wakefield. York is taken prisoner his son, Edmund, is killed. Margaret taunts York who is eventually stabbed and killed by Margaret and Lord Clifford - the head of the Duke of York is placed on the gates of York. The fighting continues and the Earl of Warwick is defeated by the Queen. Warwick informs York's sons, Edward and Richard, of the defeat and the Queen's plans to march on London and reclaim the throne for Henry. Warwick believes that they, the Yorkists, can still win and Edward, who has now become Duke of York following his father's death, can then claim the crown. The armies meet and the timid and weak King just watches the battle. The Yorkists win the battle and the Queen flees to France with her son and Clifford is beheaded. The weak King Henry is captured in the north of England and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Edward, Duke of York, is proclaimed Edward IV. Warwick insists that the new monarch should forge ties and allies with France and marry Lady Bona, the sister of the King of France. Warwick goes to France to make the arrangements. Edward, helped by Gloucester, escapes to Burgundy and raises an army. He returns to England to reclaim the throne. He and Gloucester capture Henry, return him to the Tower of London and engage Warwick in battle at Coventry. Clarence then decides to switch sides again to fight with his brothers. Margaret then arrives from France with fresh troops. But she is defeated near Tewkesbury, and she and her son are taken prisoner. Margaret's son insults the brothers and they stab him to death. Gloucester then returns to London and he stabs Henry. Edward is restored to the throne, Margaret is exiled to France and Gloucester lies in waiting.