Have Richard III’s remains been found?

The archaeologists, from the University of Leicester, have been searching for the 15th century king at the site where it is believed he was buried following his death at the Battle of Bosworth.

In August the search began at the car park in Grey Friars Road, Leicester, and at the start of this month it was confirmed that the team had discovered a lost Franciscan friary, known as the Church of the Grey Friars. Today, the University announced that it had found human remains at the site.

The bones have now been sent for DNA testing, which will take eight to 12 weeks. The DNA will be cross referenced with that of Michael Ibsen, whose mother was a direct descendant of Richard’s eldest sister, Anne of York.

Prior to finding the remains, the team had discovered the garden of Robert Herrick, a former mayor of Leicester. In 1612, Christopher Wren Senior, the father of Christopher Wren, recorded that he had visited the Mayor’s garden and seen a memorial which read ‘Here lies the body of Richard III sometime King of England’. This is the last known recording of the location of the mediaeval monarch’s body.

The dig

On the 24th August, archaeologists began searching for the best places to dig, using radar equipment. Mediaeval walls were discovered at the site four days later, and the site was confirmed as the lost church on September 5th.

Two days after that Herrick’s garden was discovered. The dig was meant to last just two weeks, but on the basis of the evidence being unearthed, the diggers were given a third week, starting on Monday. A further two days and the human remains were discovered.

Richard III

Richard III was the youngest surviving child of Richard, the third Duke of York. On the death of his older brother, Edward IV, in 1483, it was expected that Edward’s son, Edward V, would take the throne.

However, it was discovered that the old king’s children, Edward and Richard, were illegitimate – and Richard took the throne after being petitioned by Parliament. The princes were moved to the royal apartments in the Tower of London (and have since been known as the Princes in the Tower).

Forces opposed to Richard taking the throne over Edward formed a rebellion against him, led by Henry Tudor, latterly Henry VII.

Funded by the French government, Henry marched against Richard at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, where Richard was reportedly killed whilst fighting in the thickest part of the action.