She was the only surviving child of Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, or Black Tom, and his second wife, Elizabeth Sheffield.
This succession, however, was jeopardised by the Butler rebellion of 1569, fomented by Sir Edmund and his elder sons Piers and James.
Elizabeth Butler was coached by her grandmother, Douglas Sheffield, on how to behave in the presence of the queen in order to prepare for an official court appearance.
Despite his title, Lord Tulleophelim was neither wealthy nor influential and he expected his uncle and father-in-law, Black Tom, to support the newlyweds financially.
[8] With Theobald's death no eligible descendants of Edmund remained and Walter, the eldest son of her father's next younger brother, John Butler of Kilcash, became heir presumptive.
In the autumn of 1614 she married Sir Richard Preston, Lord Dingwall,[9] a courtier from Scotland and ambassador to Venice, despite her father's disapproval.
Elizabeth and Richard had an only child: Lady Dingwall's father, Black Tom, the 10th Earl, died soon after their marriage on 22 November 1614 in Carrick-on-Suir.
[12] He was succeeded by his nephew Walter Butler, son of his brother John of Kilcash, as the 11th Earl of Ormond.
On 3 October 1618 Elizabeth and her husband were awarded more than half of the Ormond estate, including Kilkenny Castle, although it was several years before they were able to take up residence there due to the obstructions of Walter's lawyers.
Their support for this individual led to much controversy within the family and within their territories leading to Elizabeth, ultimately, leaving Ireland in August 1624 never to return.
[15] Their daughter, Elizabeth Preston, would later marry her cousin, James Butler, the future twelfth earl and first duke of Ormond.