After 500 Years, Richard III's Bones Yield Their Secret

Researchers say a skeleton buried under a parking lot belongs to King Richard III, solving a 500-year-old mystery about his final resting place.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Science

People

William Shakespeare, King Richard Iii

Places

United Kingdom

Transcript

It's a mystery that has has confounded historians for centuries --- where did the remains of King Richard III, the last British monarch to die in battle, end up? SOUNDBITE: Leicester University Deputy Registrar, Richard Taylor saying: "Today we bear witness to history, we peer 500 years into medieval times and literally reach into a grave. What we are about to tell you is truly astonishing." In their quest for answers, researchers at the Leicester University exhumed a skeleton buried below a parking lot. Project Geneticist, Turi King. SOUNDBITE: Project Geneticist, Turi King saying: "There is a DNA match between the maternal DNA from the descendants of the family of Richard III and the skeletal remains that were found in the Grey Friars dig. In short, the DNA evidence points to these being the remains of Richard III." While the mystery of the legendary King has been solved, salvaging his reputation may be harder. William Shakespeare depicted him as a monstrous tyrant who murdered two princes. Philippa Langley of the Richard III society. SOUNDBITE: Member Of Richard III Society, Philippa Langley saying: "But I think what's going to come out is a real man, the real Richard III, he was a medieval man and a medieval king, but he wasn't the monster of Tudor legend and all of that." His remains identified, researchers say they are already working on plans for King Richard to be laid to rest at Leicester Cathedral next year.