Richard III Remains For Leicester Burial

The government has confirmed a skeleton will be interred in Leicester if it is confirmed as being that of Richard III.

Archaeologists digging beneath a car park in Leicester in September made the discovery of the remains.

Now Justice Minister Helen Grant has said the skeleton would be interred at Leicester Cathedral if it was proved to be Richard III.

Ms Grant was responding to a question from Labour MP Dan Jarvis.

She wrote in a letter: "My Department issued a licence to exhume human remains which could be those of Richard III.

"Remains have now been exhumed and archaeologists are currently carrying out tests to determine the identity of the remains.

"Should they be found to be those of Richard III, the current plan is for them to be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral."

DNA tests are being carried out on the bones to see if they match with living descendants of the king’s eldest sister, Anne of York.

The confusion over the location of the remains of Richard III comes from the fact that his grave in the church of Greyfriars in Leicester was lost during redevelopment over the centuries.

Richard III reigned from 1483 to 1485 and was the last Yorkist king of England.

He is perhaps most commonly known internationally through the infamous depiction of him in Shakespeare’s play.

He died aged 32 in the Battle of Bosworth.

Labour's Jon Ashworth, who represents Leicester South, said in response to Ms Grant's written answer: "This is terrific news and a victory for the campaign.

"I always strongly argued that Leicester Cathedral was the most suitable final resting place for the remains of Richard III. Fingers crossed it actually is him now!"

(IT)