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CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
U.K. ‘princes in the tower' murder probe clears Richard III
The coffin containing the remains of King Richard III is carried by gun carriage as it processes through Leicester City centre ahead of internment at Leicester Cathedral in Leicester, England, Sunday, March 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) London, United Kingdom -- It is one of history's most intriguing 'murders' -- the mysterious disappearance over five centuries ago of two young princes from the Tower of London. Nearly 200 years after they disappeared, two small skeletons were found in a wooden box at the historic tower and reburied at Westminster Abbey. The remains were believed, but never proved, to be those of the two brothers -- heir to the throne Edward, 12, and Richard, nine, the sons of King Edward IV of England, who were reputedly murdered at the behest of their uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester. William Shakespeare later immortalized him in Richard III as a scheming hunchback who did away with his royal nephews so he could take the crown himself, sealing his reputation as a child killer. Now British author Philippa Langley, who helped unearth Richard's body from a central England carpark in 2012, has claimed that the princes -- far from being killed -- actually survived. The elder prince, Edward, was heir to the throne at the time of his disappearance and would have ruled as King Edward V of England. Langley decided to delve into the mystery after coming to believe that the conventional narrative in which Richard had the young princes killed smacked of 'history being written by the victors.' She was finally spurred into action after reading an article about Richard's reburial at Leicester Cathedral in 2015 which questioned whether the nation should honour a 'child killer.' 'I think I'd always realized that the story sort of developed during the reign of the Tudors,' she said, adding that it was then 'repeated and repeated over time' until it became 'truth and fact.' Tudor mud The last English king to die in battle, Richard ruled from 1483 until his brutal death at the Battle of Bosworth near Leicester in 1485, aged 32. Bosworth was the last major conflict in the Wars of the Roses and changed the course of English history because the Tudor dynasty of Henry VII captured the crown from Richard's Plantagenets. Langley attributes the accepted story that Richard had the boys murdered to King Henry VII, a 'very, very intelligent individual, but suspicious and highly paranoid.' 'He had a massive spy network working for him. And he was able to completely control the narrative,' she said, adding that Richard ended up 'covered in Tudor mud.' Taking a cold case review approach to the historical 'whodunnit,' Langley says she assembled a group of investigative specialists, including police and lawyers, to advise her. 'They said: 'Look, if you haven't got any confirmed, identified bodies, then it has to be a missing persons investigation and you have to follow that methodology.' 'They said: 'You have to actively look for evidence.' That's when it really started to get interesting.' Langley put out an appeal for volunteers to scour archives, only to be inundated with offers of help from people ranging from ordinary citizens to medieval historians. The result was the decade-long Missing Princes Project which she says unearthed a significant amount of information pointing to the survival of both young princes. Survival theory Langley now believes that it is up to Richard's detractors to disprove the survival thesis, which she outlines in the new book 'The Princes in the Tower: Solving History's Greatest Cold Case.' 'The onus is now on them to find the evidence that the boys died. 'They cannot say Richard III murdered the princes in the tower any more because we found numerous proofs of life everywhere,' she said. Key to Langley's conviction that both boys survived are documents discovered supporting a rebellion by 'Edward IV's son.' During the rebellion in 1487, Lambert Simnel, a pretender to the throne who came forward after Richard's death, was crowned in Dublin. According to fresh references found by the project, the boy was 'called' or said to be 'a son of King Edward', which she believes points to Simnel being the elder prince, son of Edward IV. The reaction to Langley's research has been mixed. Michael Dobson, director and a professor of Shakespeare studies at the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute, expressed skepticism. 'Given the ways of dynastic monarchy, I think Richard would have been taking a very big risk in leaving those princes alive,' he said. 'The chances of their having accidentally gone missing while incarcerated on his orders in the Tower of London seem pretty remote.' By Helen Rowe, AFP
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Black Death victims 'found' among remains of more than 20 people at the Tower of London
The first dig in more than 30 years at the Tower of London has unearthed the remains of people who may have succumbed to the Black Death. The skeletons are among more than 20 burials found during the excavation project near the White Tower, which was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. The possible plague burials date back to the correct time period - the 14th century - and it is believed the collection may be a mass grave, a practice typical when the virus was running rampant. The excavations have been conducted outside the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, which holds the remains of Henry VIII's two beheaded wives - Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard - and his executed lord chancellor, Thomas More. The work has been carried out to prepare the chapel for the installation of a new lift. Work on the project began six years ago, when a trial excavation found two skeletons buried outside the chapel. What was first excavation ever to be undertaken outside the chapel was carried out earlier this year by experts from private firm Pre-Construct Archaeology and overseen by curators from Historic Royal Palaces, which cares for the Tower. DNA testing will show if the possible plague victims actually died from the disease. As well as these remains, three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were uncovered. These people appear to have been buried in coffins, which is unusual for the period. It indicates the individuals could have been of high status. Also found was a rare fragment of a burial shroud. Textiles do not normally survive such a long period underground. A separate burial also contained two pots containing charcoal. They are exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods and are believed to date back to the 12th century or early 13th century. Further scientific analysis will now take place to find out more about the lives, deaths and burials of the people found. The dig has also shed more light on the history of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula. The current structure was built between 1519 and 1520 after a fire burned down the original building, which was put up during the reign of King Edward I in the 13th century. Evidence of a fire has been found, along with the foundations of the previous building. In Britain alone, the Black Death wiped out up to half of the population when it struck between 1348 and 1350. Alfred Hawkins, curator of historic buildings at Historic Royal Palaces, said: 'Undertaking these two excavations has provided us with a generational opportunity to enhance our understanding of the evolution of the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula, and the buildings which stood before it. 'Alongside this, through undertaking a rigorous scientific assessment of the remains encountered in 2019, we have been able to start to build up a more detailed picture of the individual lives of the people who lived, died, and worshipped within the chapel, which will only be enhanced through the results of the current, larger excavation. 'These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before, and I'm looking forward to starting analysis on some of the other amazing finds we have uncovered along the way.' Dr Katie Faillace, based at Cardiff University's School of History, Archaeology and Religion, said: 'The new excavations provide the opportunity to transform our understanding of the Tower's community. 'Our work uses a biomolecular technique known as isotope analysis, which tells us about health, diet and mobility in the past, all from a tiny fragment of a tooth. 'This cutting-edge method has unparalleled potential for reconstructing the experiences of the people who lived and died at the Tower, allowing us to build a rich picture of individuals' lives.' Dr Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said: 'Together we've struck a balance between creating lift access to a fascinating part of the Tower of London, with the complexity of carefully managing a hugely significant and archaeologically rich site. 'We're already gaining insight into the residents of the Tower in a way we have never been able to do before. 'But this is just the tip of the iceberg - there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people as well as the buildings of one of England's most evocative historic monuments.' The horror of the Black Death The Black Death is believed to have claimed its first victim in Britain in the summer of 1348. It spread slowly at first but then struck Exeter and later Bristol. By December 1349, almost the entire British Isles were afflicted. At the time, it was the worst natural disaster in European history. It is estimated that in England alone the population of five to six million was reduced to around three million. It was deemed by many to be a punishment from God for mankind's wickedness. Rich and poor suffered equally. King Edward III's daughter Joan was one of the victims. The plague also claimed the life of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In London, around 300 people died every day in the square mile. Each night, carts filled with piles of corpses made their way to the huge communal cemeteries outside the city walls. William of Dene, a monk in Rochester, recorded: 'The plague carried off so vast a multitude of people of both sexes that nobody could be found who would bear the corpses to the grave. 'Parents carried their own children on their shoulders to the church and threw them in the common pit. 'From these pits such an appalling stench was given off that scarcely anyone dared even walk beside the cemeteries.' Overall, as many as 25million people in Europe were killed. The Black Death subsided in Britain by the end of 1350, but there were further sporadic outbreaks until the late 17th century. Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and is spread by the bite from an infected flea. The infection spreads to immune glands called lymph nodes, causing them to become swollen and painful and may progress to open sores. Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and can be contracted by humans and household animals if proper precautions are not taken. Human-to-human transmission of bubonic plague is rare and is usually caught from animals. Symptoms may include sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, nausea and extreme pain and swelling of lymph nodes, occurring within two to seven days after exposure.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Historic moment female Beefeater locks Tower of London for first time in 700 years in ‘fabulous honour'
A FEMALE Beefeater has led the Ceremony of the Keys, the locking of the Tower of London, for the first time in the ritual's 700-year history. AJ Clark, 50, can perform the task after becoming the first female yeoman warder promoted to sergeant. 5 5 5 Other women have played a role in past ceremonies. But only sergeants carry the King's Keys. AJ told The Sun: 'I still pinch myself. 'It's just fabulous. 'There is so much history and it is such an honour to be part of it.' The ritual dates to 1340 after King Edward III arrived unannounced and was furious he could enter unchallenged. The ceremony lasts from 9.53pm to 10pm. We watched as AJ emerged from the Byward Tower — where Anne Boleyn lived before her 1536 execution — with a lantern and the keys. She walked alone to the Bloody Tower to meet her escort of four Irish Guards. They marched to the Middle Gate then the Byward Gate, where AJ closed and locked the huge wooden doors. Back at the Bloody Tower — where King Edward V, 12, and brother Richard, nine, were murdered — a sentry challenged AJ: 'Halt! Who goes there?' Adorable moment King's Guard breaks protocol to nod at little boy who dreams of becoming a beefeater AJ replied she had 'King Charles' keys' and her group was allowed to pass. She gave the keys to the King's representative, before the playing of the Last Post. AJ, of Burnley, spent 24 years in the Army before becoming a Beefeater in 2017. She lives in the Tower with her husband and three dogs. She added: 'It is the shortest military ceremony in history, but for us the most important. 'Being a yeoman warder is magical.' 5
BBC News
09-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Former RAF officer from Cardiff becomes Tower of London Beefeater
A former RAF Warrant Officer from Cardiff has been selected as a Yeoman Warder (YW) at the Tower of Harris served in the RAF for more than 36 years, during which time he was deployed for tours to Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Cyprus. Nicknamed Beefeaters, it is a position introduced by Henry VII in 1485 to help guard the fortress and YW Harris is thought to be the first Welsh Beefeater in more than a decade. YW Harris described his appointment as an immense honour, and said he was "extremely proud to represent Wales". As one of 35 who live and work at the tower, YW Harris said he has enjoyed settling into his "quirky new home within the tower's vibrant community". He said he left Cardiff in 1988 and has worked at stations all over the UK with the RAF, but it means an "awful lot" to him to be able to represent the national heritage."At the end of my career it's great to be allowed to continue the historical elements of service life," he said. Describing what it was like to put on the uniform, YW Harris said you just "cannot imagine" the feeling. "It was immense" he said, adding it was "such an immensely proud moment". "I have a lot to learn and will be focused on learning the tower's history and legends before I am ready to share these with our visitors, so the next few months are going to be incredibly exciting."Part of the criteria for becoming a YW is a minimum of 22 years' service with the military, to hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and to have reached the rank of warrant officer or equivalent, before being selected for the coming months, YW Harris will learn "the story" – the script of the famous Yeoman Warder tour, in verbatim, before he can lead his own tours of the Tower of London. He will also be required to learn the 21 separate duties conducted by the Yeoman Body each day, including the Ceremony of the Keys, a closing ceremony that has taken place every single night for at least 700 years.A devoted sportsman, YW Harris is known to be a supporter of Welsh rugby, Cardiff City FC, and the Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey club, having coached the RAF Ice Hockey team to four successive inter-service championships during his previous career.
The Independent
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The best tourist attraction in London revealed
The Tower of London has been revealed as the most popular tourist attraction in the capital. Research conducted by Travelodge, which surveyed 13,500 people, placed the historic castle top of the list, followed by Covent Garden and Buckingham Palace. The Tower of London attracts more than three million visitors every year, with tourists eager to see the Crown Jewels, meet the Yeomen Warders and the tower's ravens. A number of museums also featured in the top 20, including the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Other notable attractions included Camden Market, Battersea Power Station, and St Paul's Cathedral. The top 20 attractions were: Tower of London Covent Garden Buckingham Palace Natural History Museum Camden Market Big Ben Borough Market The London Eye British Museum Tower Bridge Victoria and Albert Museum Imperial War Museum Battersea Power Station Harry Potter Studio Tour Science Museum Sky Garden Hyde Park Hampton Court Palace St Paul's Cathedral Tate Modern Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, but it's also great to see people rate newer attractions such as Battersea Power Station and Sky Garden too.'
