Anne was the younger daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of
Warwick and Salisbury, and Anne Beauchamp. She was born at
Warwick Castle on 11 June 1456. The date of her marriage to
Richard, Duke of Gloucester (who became Richard III) is not
known. When Richard usurped the throne in 1483 Anne was crowned
with him in the Abbey on 6 July. Their son Edward, Prince of
Wales, died in 1484 and Anne herself died at the Palace of
Westminster on 16 March 1485 during an eclipse of the sun. She
had a magnificent funeral and was buried on the southern side of
the Abbey near the altar. No stone or monument marked her grave,
possibly because Richard was killed that year at Bosworth.
A brass plate and coat of arms, designed by J.S.Comper, was
erected in 1960 on the wall of the south ambulatory with the
inscription:
ANNE NEVILL 1456-1485 QUEEN OF ENGLAND YOUNGER DAUGHTER
OF RICHARD EARL OF WARWICK CALLED THE KINGMAKER WIFE TO THE LAST
PLANTAGENET KING RICHARD III.
"In person she was seemly, amiable and beauteous...And
according to the interpretation of her name Anne full gracious"
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
The quote is taken from the Rous Roll in the British Library.
The heraldic shield is enamelled and surmounted by a coronet.
A copy can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library.