Richard III – The Continuing Investigation
Following the recent discovery of the bones of Richard III, there have also been a few stories in the news about checking on the bones buried in Westminster Abbey, reputed to belong to the Princes in the Tower, the focus of the story in The Sorcerer’s Letterbox. The twelve year old Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, were imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1483 and never seen again.
Tests may be able to prove if the bones in Westminster Abbey are connected to those of Richard III, although this will not determine an exact cause of death or who was responsible, of course. Tests will also not be able to determine a precise date of death, perhaps only pinpointing it to somewhere between Richard’s seizure of the crown and his death at the Battle of Bosworth, a crucial element in this investigation.
The bones in Westminster Abbey were examined once before, in the 1930s, before the advent of DNA testing. At that time it was concluded that the bones belonged to children who were related to each other and to other known royal relatives. The bones were also found to be of children who were the same age as the princes when they disappeared. It would certainly appear that the bones belong to the Princes in the Tower, but whether this can ever be conclusively proved remains to be seen.
Learn more about the historical background to The Sorcerers Letterbox, visit YouTube for the story behind the story of the novel, read an excerpt or listen to a reading from novel.
