King & Conqueror Episode 3 recap: Harold returns to Wessex for Edith and William plots against Henry

BBC One's epic historical drama King & Conqueror, starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, dropped on August 24, 2025.

Created and written by Michael Robert Johnson, this series is set in 11th-century England. It delves into the lives of Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy, who started as allies until their fate takes a brutal turn that pits them against each other for the country's crown.

After the English King Edward the Confessor died heirless in 1066, the power vacuum led to the Battle of Hastings between Harold Godwinson and William of Normandy.

However, in King & Conqueror, we get a glimpse of the events right from King Edward the Confessor's coronation. The saga opens with Edward the Confessor's coronation in 1043.

Across the Channel, William of Normandy receives an invitation to the coronation, and during his journey, he is saved by Harold. William's uncle, King Henry of France, plots against him. Lady Emma, Edward's mother, schemes to undermine Earl Godwin of Wessex. Harold Godwinson, ever loyal, tries to warn his father about Mercian treachery, but Godwin dismisses his warnings.

By episode 2, Godwin reveals a deadly secret: that he had killed Emma's son Aethel. Edward punishes Godwin with exile, Lady Emma instigates Morcar, and William is left to hide his newborn son from Henry's reach.

Meanwhile, the Godwins' plans to sail to Flanders, but when they are attacked by Mercians, and Edith is left behind and taken as a prisoner. The episode ends with Harold learning that his partner has been taken captive. Even though Harold grows restless, his family convinces him to sail with them to Flanders.

The synopsis of Episode 3 of King & Conqueror, titled Brothers reads,

"Harold risks returning to Wessex for his wife, while William plots against Henry in France as home truths compromise family ties."

Continue reading to know what happened in King & Conqueror Episode 3

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King & Conqueror Episode 3 recap: Harold's desperate attempt to recuse Edith

Episode 3 of King & Conqueror picks up with Harold desperate to rescue Edith, but a storm blocks his return to England. His brother rallies around him, with Sweyn eager to fight and Tostig determined to join. Count Baldwin steps in and offers them boats in exchange for favors. He introduces Tostig to his daughter Judith, a meeting that sparks unexpected romance.

Back in Mercia, Edith suffers at the hands of her captors, hiding her growing pregnancy while enduring torture. Harold's journey back to England is rather bloody. Sweyn charges recklessly, often ignoring Harold's orders. The Mercians reveal that Edith had already been moved to London upon Emma's orders.

Amidst the chaos, Harold finds an unlikely ally, Earl Morcar. Morcar, long under Emma's control, had grown tired of her motives. He admits his resentment and agrees to side with Wessex against the tyranny. In return, he asks for half of the plundered royal treasury. This pact shifts the power balance, and Harold adds another ally in Earl Siward of Northumbria and ensuring his legacy.

Godwin, ever calculating, promises Harold leadership in battle but assures Sweyn the title of Northumbria once the war ends. While Godwin assures Harold, the position of the Earl of Wessex. The favouritism is clear, and it could cost them. The moves set up for future friction between the brothers.

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King & Conqueror Episode 3 recap: William's rising resolve

Across the Channel, William's path grows sharper. He faces fresh threats; as Henry boasts of eliminating his rivals and even threatens William's son. The young duke sees no path forward but open defiance. Matilda, fiery as ever and now a mother, urges him to act boldly.

William plans to use Baldwin against Henry, turning family ties into weapons. In a secret meeting with French dukes, he plots rebellion. The episode offers a strange yet tense scene between Harold and William, as both men share a bath, exchanging wary words about Edith's captivity and Edward's instability.

Harold also asks for William's help to rescue Edith, but William remains unsure. During their conversation, a group of attackers tries to kill them, but Thane Thomas saves them.

By the end, William is no longer a hesitant exile as we saw in episode 1. He's calculating and dangerous, ready to strike Henry. His transformation mirrors Harold's, who is scheming his way to rescue Edith from the clutches of Lady Emma.

Also read: King & Conqueror cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the latest historical drama on BBC?

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