Cécily Neville, wife of Richard, Duke of York, and mother to Edward, George, and Richard, maintains a neat, modest appearance, her brown hair often plaited and pinned back, reflecting her status and reserved nature. She harbors enduring animosity toward her youngest son, Richard, viewing him as a demon due to his intersex condition. This perception stems from his birth, which she describes as delivering a "misshapen lump," leading her to consider his existence a curse upon the York line. She actively shuns Richard, denies him maternal care, and spreads rumors to damage his standing. Her hostility intensifies after her husband's death in battle, blaming Richard for persuading the Duke to pursue the conflict.

Cécily exhibits clear favoritism among her children, supporting Edward and George while subjecting Richard to relentless psychological abuse. She frames this treatment as her maternal duty, asserting the right to punish him as the one who brought him into the world. Her actions feed into Richard's profound self-hatred and alienation.

She navigates the Wars of the Roses' political turmoil, leveraging her influence within the York faction. After her husband's death and throughout her sons' reigns, she maintains a presence in court affairs, though her role remains primarily defined by her antagonism toward Richard. Her relationship with him shows no evolution or redemption; her consistent role is as a source of trauma, reinforcing his struggles with identity and belonging through unwavering rejection and public denigration.