The ceremony at the center of Starz's The White Princess is a far cry from the image "royal wedding" tends to conjure. But somber faces and blood-red gowns suit the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, an arranged, strategic union tasked with easing relations between the Yorks and Tudors at the end of the War of the Roses.

"In 15th-century England, marriages are not based on love," Professor James Clark explains in the exclusive behind-the-scenes clip below. "They are practical decisions and tactical decisions. England has passed through the most unstable period of its history, a dynastic conflict between the Yorks and the Tudors. A royal marriage is a very effective way of saying what used to be two dynasties have now become one."



Hardly a blushing bride, "Lizzie’s wedding dress is black and red,” explains actress Jodie Comer who plays young royal. "So it’s not your typical wedding dress, but being forced into this marriage, I think it probably reflected her mood going into the ceremony."

And even more than an expression of the Princess's emotion, the garment also sends a message to her groom.

"Red is the color of wars in the period, so for Henry to see his bride-to-be wearing a red dress on that day... I mean, it’s a really a high insult,” Jacob Collins-Levy, who plays Henry VII says.



"To see a row of bishops, the crowd dressed in period clothing, it does a lot to help you feel like you’re in Westminster Abbey, being married to a princess, and that’s a very exciting thing."

Watch the exclusive video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the wedding:

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New episodes of The White Princess air every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Starz.



Caroline Hallemann Senior Digital News Editor As the senior digital news editor for Town & Country, Caroline Hallemann covers everything from the British royal family to the latest episodes of Outlander, Killing Eve, and The Crown.

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