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| Richard III dig: Leicester Cathedral burial confirmed | Richard III dig: Leicester Cathedral burial confirmed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government has confirmed a skeleton that could be that of Richard III will be interred in Leicester if it is confirmed as the 15th Century king. | The government has confirmed a skeleton that could be that of Richard III will be interred in Leicester if it is confirmed as the 15th Century king. |
| The bones were found in September by archaeologists digging beneath a car park in Leicester. | The bones were found in September by archaeologists digging beneath a car park in Leicester. |
| Leicester, Nottinghamshire and York MPs discussed a permanent grave on Friday. | Leicester, Nottinghamshire and York MPs discussed a permanent grave on Friday. |
| In a written answer, justice minister Helen Grant said the skeleton would be interred at Leicester Cathedral if tests proved it was Richard III. | In a written answer, justice minister Helen Grant said the skeleton would be interred at Leicester Cathedral if tests proved it was Richard III. |
| In response to a question posed by Dan Jarvis, Labour MP for Barnsley, Ms Grant wrote: "My Department issued a licence to exhume human remains which could be those of Richard III. | In response to a question posed by Dan Jarvis, Labour MP for Barnsley, Ms Grant wrote: "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. | "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." | "Should they be found to be those of Richard III, the current plan is for them to be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral." |
| 'Terrific news' | 'Terrific news' |
| DNA results on the bones are being compared to that of living descendants of Richard's eldest sister, Anne of York. | DNA results on the bones are being compared to that of living descendants of Richard's eldest sister, Anne of York. |
| Richard died at the hands of forces of Henry Tudor near Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. | Richard died at the hands of forces of Henry Tudor near Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. |
| His grave, in the church of Greyfriars in Leicester, was lost during centuries of redevelopment. | His grave, in the church of Greyfriars in Leicester, was lost during centuries of redevelopment. |
| However, the archaeologists from Leicester University have found a skeleton, which is consistent with the known details of his appearance and death. | However, the archaeologists from Leicester University have found a skeleton, which is consistent with the known details of his appearance and death. |
| A university spokesperson said the evidence included signs of a peri-mortem (near-death) trauma to the skull and a barbed iron arrow head in the area of the spine. | A university spokesperson said the evidence included signs of a peri-mortem (near-death) trauma to the skull and a barbed iron arrow head in the area of the spine. |
| Richard is recorded by some sources as having been pulled from his horse and killed with a blow to the head. | Richard is recorded by some sources as having been pulled from his horse and killed with a blow to the head. |
| The skeleton also showed evidence of severe scoliosis - a curvature of the spine - which may have led Shakespeare to portray him as a "hunchback" king. | |
| Campaigners from both York and Leicester have said the remains, should they prove to be the king, ought to come to them. | Campaigners from both York and Leicester have said the remains, should they prove to be the king, ought to come to them. |
| In the debate, Labour MP John Mann, from Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, offered Worksop as a halfway point between the two. | |
| 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. | 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!" | |
| Joe Ann Ricca, founder and chief executive of The Richard III Foundation, which had argued the skeleton should be interred in York, said she was disappointed at the decision. | Joe Ann Ricca, founder and chief executive of The Richard III Foundation, which had argued the skeleton should be interred in York, said she was disappointed at the decision. |
| "If his remains are really going to be buried in Leicester, we would hope he at least has a traditional Christian service," she said. | "If his remains are really going to be buried in Leicester, we would hope he at least has a traditional Christian service," she said. |
| "But it's kind of a monstrous act when you know that the former king of England had expressed the desire and a wish to be buried at York Minster." | "But it's kind of a monstrous act when you know that the former king of England had expressed the desire and a wish to be buried at York Minster." |