The King in the carpark.

[Froglegs]

So Richard was a hunchback, Shakespeare wasn't toeing the party line.

[Froglegs]

[Nora42]

do you think he got clamped for not paying and staying there for centuries ?

the thing I find most amazing is that they have checked the DNA against living relatives from his maternal line. just goes to show being a King doesn't mean your DNA will be around for a long time but being the kings Aunt did, wild.
Nora

[Digeroo]

I must say I would have liked the announcement with some kind of probable percentage error. 

I have taken several strands of my family tree back to about 1700 (9 generations).   Then when you go the other way and make contact with people who are related to those same people many many strands start to appear.  I have distant cousins on four continents.  If that could be taken back another 150 years then I am related to quite a lot of people.   

Going backwards there is always a factor of two per generation.  So assuming a generation on average every 30 years I am related to up to 131072 born in 1440.  (17 Generations)  Though since there has been intermarrying between families and cousins this number is overstated.  But some generations were shorter.  Assuming a generation gap of 25 years then the number increases to over 1 million.

Taking an average of only two children per generation I could be related to up to 17000 million people.   But when some people had 15 surviving children then the downward tree could be vast.  In theory it is not difficult to calculate that we are all possibly related to the Richard the Carpark.   

Once you add up all the assumptions, could bes  and up tos then you realize that the whole thing could be very iffy indeed.

Did they not bury even one item with him that would have proved who he was?

[Obelixx]

No.  They needed to lose him and any relatives such as the missing young prince in order to legitimise the very dodgy claims of Henry Tudor to the throne and prevent an uprising of his supporters.    It's far more likely the two young princes were killed by Henry Tudor's people than by Richard who had always demonstrated strong family loyalties.

As for being related to millions, well yes.  We're all descended from just a few females who left the African continent and spread out with their family groups across Asia and into Europe.   Some claim to trace our ancestry back to one woman -

Mitochondrial Eve is a woman who lived in East Africa. She is the most recent female ancestor common to all mitochondrial lineages in humans alive today. Note that there is no evidence of any characteristic or genetic drift that significantly differentiated her from the contemporary social group she lived with at the time. Her ancestors were homo sapiens as were her contemporaries.

[Chrispy]

There are some DNA markers that only get passed down the male or female line.
So yes, we are all probably related, but only those who are descended down the male/female line carry these markers so this eliminates this doubling effect, as long as you have the family tree records.

I am going for a google to find out more.

[Chrispy]

Here we go, the University of Leicester has a good page explaining it.

[Digeroo]

Sorry still not convinced.  Quite remarkable they have found a female line relative.  Especially as he is a male and so the last of the line.   

Leaves the door wide open for various studies to prove or disprove.  I am sure we have not heard the last of this story.   

[ACE]

Sorry still not convinced. 

Does it really matter, a visitor centre, history made interesting, a reason for going to Leicester. Can be employment for people who are hard pressed to find a job. Other places cash in on legends, Robin Hood, King Arthur etc, all good money spinners.

Just think of it, an annual fair, with ride the hunchback, roll up, roll up,get a lump of car park tarmac here. Dead horse burgers, twisted lollies. DNA tests while you wait. The list is endless.

[Chrispy]

Yea, why bother with science, there's nothing like a good conspiracy theory to keep the punters coming back.

[lottie lou]

A rather fitting grave I should think if Shakespear was right and he was calling for his personal transport of the day

[Nora42]

GOOD FREND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE TO
DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE.
BLEST BE YE MAN YT SPARES THES STONES AND
CURST BE HE YT MOVES MY BONES

so said by William S and I wonder if Richard III thought the same?
Nora

[davyw1]

What are they talking about King
They have finaly found the 1685 hide and seek champion

[Chrispy]

What are they talking about King
They have finaly found the 1685 hide and seek champion

Even more impressive would be 1485.

[grawrc]

Dicey business being a king/queen back then. Poor things !!!!!

[Digeroo]

And you never know when someone is going to turn you into a carpark.