DNA has proved that a skeleton found under a carpark is indeed that of King Richard III who died in 1485.

The story from the BBC can be found here

This is amazing So he did have a hunchback, but not a withered arm. Poor much maligned fellow, he seems too frail to have done all the wicked things they said.Isn't it incredible that they traced the line through a Canadian woman, whose son provided the sample?.

The man on the radio said that they had to make a massive family tree to track down the descendents. He said that even before they checked DNA it was pretty conclusive that it was him as the bones were carbon dated to the right sort of age, that the age of the person was about right, that it was a well-born person and had scloliosis.

At least he can now be buried in a marked grave.

I can feel my Northamptonshire blood stirring at the idea he might be buried in Leicester... give us our king back!

Fascinating programme on the whole thing on television tonight, which finished with a recreation of his face. Very similar to the portraits of him we are used to seeing, but somehow kinder, softer, less malign. I suppose him without the Tudor spin.

It was a most interesting programme.

Yes, I liked that very much. I hadn't realised they found him with in very first trench they dug, that was amazing - as was the reconstructed head.

Be interesting to see where they do re-bury him. Apparently he had always said he wanted to be buried in York Minster. As he was a King I wonder if they will have to consult with the Queen first.

Was this TV programme on the BBC? If so, there is a chance it might make it down under, or I could try to find it in downloadable form. I'd be extremely interested in watching, partially as my antecedents are from Leicester!

My understanding is that the Queen will have to give her permission for whatever ceremony takes place and where - and I don't think she has agreed to anything yet. I suspect they'll avoid Westminster Abbey as that would take on the semblance of a state funeral, though technically Richard would be entitled to one. York seems preferable to me, he did actually live up there and they do seem to have liked their Duke/King. I'm actually not at all sure what real claim Leicester actually has - he was buried there by the Tudor victors in a battle nearby where he was killed but in the circumstances what the Tudors did doesn't seem to take precedence, at least not to me. Perhaps RMG will come along and enlighten us.

The programme was on Channel 4, Mike... maybe you can watch it via their catch up system.

Mike, you should be able to get it. Team mates of mine in both Australia and Canada have managed to get it.