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Richard III

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As a 3 times graduate and ex-worker at University of Leicester, I am very proud that they have just announced that the DNA fingerprinting (a Leicester discovery) has confirmed they have found the remains of Richard the third - the last British Monarch to die in battle. Well Done, them!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21063882

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Yes, indeed. I thought they'd conclude that they were probably his remains, not that they certainly are (given 2 DNA matches). We lived for 20 years in Bosworth so have always been interested in RIII.

 

Apparently a camping shop in Leicester has an end of season sale with the sign "now is the winter of our discount tents". I need to see it!

 

H

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This is such an amazing - incredible, in the true sense of the word - story. I never thought that they would find a body, and when they did and it matched the descriptions of him in life and in death, it was marvellous.

 

Perhaps this is a chance for his reputation to be rehabilitated, I read 'Daughter of Time' by Josephine Tey when I was a teenager and have been convinced ever since that he was not guilty of murdering his nephews!

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Olly, I agree! I have thought for many years that the poor chap was much maligned by history esp over the fate of the two princes (makes so much more sense for Henry VII to have committed the murders!)

 

I wonder what will happen to the bones now - personally I'd like to see him buried at Westminster Abbey or St Georges Chapel Windsor with due ceremony. Has anyone heard what might happen about his 'really' final resting place?

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It was agreed that he will be reburied in Leicester Cathedral.

It was part of the agreement to dig him up and convention to re-inter remains in the nearest sanctified (?) grounds - ie Leicester Cathedral.

I don't think there is to be a funeral (as he had one already) but a re-interment and service.

 

H

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Also watching here!

 

Last September we accidentally visited his birthplace, Fotheringhay Castle (stayed at the lovely Castle Farm Guest House) which is also where Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded. We took a walk around the remains of the castle every morning. I remember a Duke of York and wife are buried in the church in Fotheringhay, not sure if it is the Duke of York or not :?

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Such an amazing bit of history. Richard III is a very interesting king and has been brought back to life. It's quite a gift for teachers I should think, bones, mystery, gory wounds and murder. I thought the channel 4 programme was dire, too much crying and running from rooms. Hopefully there will be a more informative one soon. Having said that, some eccentrics with a passion for a king found him. That's incredible and the Ricardians achieved something very big especially as it seems "Ooops, word censored!"ody in Leicester seemed to really believed them at first - understandably.

I'm not sure where he should be buried. Windsor doesn't seem appropriate as he wasn't really connected to the present Monarch. I think he should be honoured though by being laid to rest in Westminster. I expect he'll remain in Leicester which I can understand.

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For me the oddest thing was seeing Simon Farnaby presenting; those on the Forum with young children will probably have seen him in Horrible Histories. I kept expecting him to go into his 'stupid deaths' routine! But I thought he was very sweet and patient with the Ricardian lady (Patricia...? not good with names!)

 

And yes, all the crying and running out of the room was a bit OTT but it must have been very emotional and its a bit spooky that the lady found the letter R on the tarmac in the car park apparently (tho they glossed over this a bit, I thought) very near where the bones were found!

 

Wasn't the facial reconstruction amazing? I am running out of time but intend to start a thread about these reconstructions later today as shortly off to soft play with YS - agggh!

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I watched the full news conference yesterday - it is really worth seeing as all of the experts describe their research in much more detail without any blubbing! It will either be on the BBC website or the Leicester Uni one.

 

Thought the C4 documentary was too lightweight and the woman who instigated the dig was just a bit weird. "Yes you can see from his face that he wasn't a tyrant" :lol:

 

I also thought it was amusing that the Richard society (who knew there was one) had convinced themselves absolutely that he wasn't a hunchback. I know that technically he wasn't but he did have rather a large spinal deformity.

 

What an absolute treat for researchers - will never come again.

 

In the news conference they confirmed that he is to be interred in Leicester Cathedral as the body who allow exhumations (sorry "body" is probably the wrong word here!)

state that re-burial must be as near to the site of the original burial as possible and there is alreaady a memorial to him in the Cathedral.

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I thought the channel 4 programme was dire, too much crying and running from rooms.

Oh - so wasn't just me then.

I watched the press conference on my PC as it happened - this was VERY good. I recorded the TV prog and watched half of it and gave up - I thought it was because I'd seen enough for the day - but maybe it was just not as good.

 

The University of Leicester have a good site http://www.le.ac.uk/richardiii/

 

and there are lots of videos on youtube eg.

 

H

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