After years of civil unrest between the royal houses of York and Lancaster, Edward IV is undisputed king. However, his brother Richard Duke of  Gloucester plots to seize the throne for himself,  removing anybody in his path, starting with their other brother George Duke of Clarence who is arrested for treason.

Richard decides he needs a wife and sets out to woo the Lady Anne, widow of Henry VI's heir. Against all the odds he wins her and celebrates by having Clarence covertly killed in the Tower.

On hearing of Clarence's death, Edward IV is taken ill and dies. In his new role as Lord Protector, Richard has Edward's heirs confined in the tower, supposedly for safe-keeping and to await the coronation. Edward IV's widow, Elizabeth, mistrusts Richard and is proved right when he also has her brothers Rivers and Grey executed.

The Duke of Buckingham becomes Richard's chief advisor and together they mastermind and manipulate Richard's accession to the throne. Richard promises Buckingham an earldom for his help but refuses to grant it when Buckingham refuses to kill the princes held in the Tower. Richard finds other killers.

Fearing for his safety, Buckingham flees to join the last Lancastrian heir Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond,  who is leading an army from France against Richard. Having willed the death of his wife Anne, Richard plans to marry Edward IV's daughter Elizabeth to prevent his Richmond doing so and thereby strengthening his claim to the throne.

Richmond and his army arrive in England and the two armies camp close at Bosworth Field. The night before the battle, the ghosts of his victims torment Richard in his dreams.

The next day Richard is killed in battle and Richmond claims the crown as Henry VII. He announces he will marry Elizabeth of York and finally unite the two warring factions.