Prince Edward, the young heir to the throne, arrives in London and is greeted by his uncle, Richard of Gloucester. The prince expresses sadness that his uncle George is not there, and Richard ironically reminds him that some people speak nicely but harbor ill intentions beneath.

Lord Hastings, an enemy of Queen Elizabeth’s family, arrives to report that the queen and her son, Richard the Duke of York, have claimed sanctuary in a church. While Richard’s allies are dismayed by this, arguing that they cannot violate the laws of sanctuary that allows people to claim the protection of the church as long as they remain on sacred ground, Buckingham argues that children are exempt from this rule because they are not yet capable of speaking for themselves legally.

While the lords go to fetch the young prince Richard, Prince Edward discusses where he will reside in London before the coronation. His uncle Richard suggests that he stay in the Tower of London, although Prince Edward is reluctant to do so since that is where his uncle George was murdered. Richard reminds him that the Tower was supposedly built by Julius Caesar and they discuss the long-lived fame of those who leave their mark on history.