When the time came for Edward to marry his mother, Queen Isabella would opt for a match with the house of Hainault. Edward was married to Philippa of Hainult, daughter of William Count of Hainault, Holland and Zealand. The marriage was not a love match at first rather a political move arranged by Isabella and her lover Mortimer of whom I shall discuss in due time. Edward was reputed to have visited the home of the count with his father years before and met the young Phillipa. Michael Packe in his book King Edward III gives us a delightful description of the king and queen's first meeting:

"He spied on the unwitting sisters, and pounced on the youngest of them, Philippa by name', at the time eight years old and nearest in age to Edward, who was nearly seven years. He had then subjected her to a
minute and terrifying scrutiny. Apart from some criticism of her remaining baby teeth (they were 'not so white', he had found little fault with her solid physiognomy. Her hair betwixt blue-black and brown
and not uncomely', her forehead large; her eyes blackish brown and deep,her nose though 'somewhat broad at the tip and also flattened', was 'yet no snub-nose'; her mouth was wide and generous, her ears and chin were
'comely enough', her mouth was wide and generous, she was of middle height for her age, well taught, and of 'fair carriage'.

'Her neck, shoulders, and all her body and lower limbs are reasonably well shapen; all her limbs are well set and unmaimed; and nought is amiss so far as a man may see. Moreover, she is brown of skin all over,
and much like her father; and in all things she is pleasant enough to look at it seems to us'."

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