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Richard III: Coffin viewers' wait reaches four hours Richard III: More than 5,000 people visit Leicester Cathedral coffin
(about 2 months later)
People wanting to view Richard III's coffin have been urged not to join the queue after the wait passed four hours. More than 5,000 people have visited Leicester Cathedral to view Richard III's coffin before his remains are reintered on Thursday.
The last Plantagenet king's remains arrived on Sunday after a cortege took his coffin through Leicestershire. More than 2,000 people are thought to already be waiting. The king's casket went on display on Monday morning and people waited up to four hours to see it.
His skeleton was found under a car park in 2012. Richard III's skeleton was found under a car park in Leicester in 2012.
The reburial ceremony, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, will be held on Thursday. A requiem mass was said at Holy Cross Church in Leicester earlier, led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England.
The reburial ceremony will be held at Leicester Cathedral later this week, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
Further viewing times are Tuesday 09:00-12:30 / 14:00-17:00 / 19:15-21:00 and Wednesday 09:00-12:30.Further viewing times are Tuesday 09:00-12:30 / 14:00-17:00 / 19:15-21:00 and Wednesday 09:00-12:30.
Liz Hudson from Leicester Cathedral said the amount of people visiting had been "remarkable".
"We would have liked for people not to have waited three to four hours but everybody has got through," she said.
"It is the only chance we will ever get to do this and we are expecting even more people on Tuesday with the longer opening times."
Richard, the last English king to die in battle, was killed at Bosworth Field in 1485, at the end of the Wars of the Roses.Richard, the last English king to die in battle, was killed at Bosworth Field in 1485, at the end of the Wars of the Roses.
After his death his body was taken to the Greyfriars Church in Leicester and buried in a hastily dug grave.After his death his body was taken to the Greyfriars Church in Leicester and buried in a hastily dug grave.
In the centuries since, Richard gained notoriety as Shakespeare's villain and the possible killer of the princes in the tower.In the centuries since, Richard gained notoriety as Shakespeare's villain and the possible killer of the princes in the tower.
His grave's location became a mystery until it was found under a municipal car park in a discovery that stunned archaeologists and drew worldwide attention.His grave's location became a mystery until it was found under a municipal car park in a discovery that stunned archaeologists and drew worldwide attention.
Next to the coffin
BBC Today's Justin Webb reports from Leicester Cathedral: "A combination of solemnity... and a tourist attraction".
In the queue outside the cathedral Rebecca McCole, from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA, said: "I was one of the lucky ones to get an invite so how could I not come to see this all.In the queue outside the cathedral Rebecca McCole, from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA, said: "I was one of the lucky ones to get an invite so how could I not come to see this all.
"I have always been interested in history, especially in the British monarchy."I have always been interested in history, especially in the British monarchy.
"This visit has been really inspiring and everyone has been so helpful and delightful.""This visit has been really inspiring and everyone has been so helpful and delightful."
Richard III - Controversy KingRichard III - Controversy King
Throughout Richard's turbulent upbringing - two periods of exile and the death in battle of his father - he proved himself a capable and loyal follower of his eldest brother, who became Edward IV.Throughout Richard's turbulent upbringing - two periods of exile and the death in battle of his father - he proved himself a capable and loyal follower of his eldest brother, who became Edward IV.
However on Edward's death, Richard seized and imprisoned his young sons. They were then disinherited on the grounds Edward had a previously unheard-of marriage contract with another woman.However on Edward's death, Richard seized and imprisoned his young sons. They were then disinherited on the grounds Edward had a previously unheard-of marriage contract with another woman.
Richard passed a number of laws, including an early version of legal aid and making courts use English, which benefited the common man.Richard passed a number of laws, including an early version of legal aid and making courts use English, which benefited the common man.
Despite this, his taking of the crown, the disappearance of Edward's sons and the execution of several leading nobles, lead to discontent and rebellions.Despite this, his taking of the crown, the disappearance of Edward's sons and the execution of several leading nobles, lead to discontent and rebellions.
At Bosworth, Richard's larger army failed to crack Henry Tudor's troops while the king's reserves did not move to his aid.At Bosworth, Richard's larger army failed to crack Henry Tudor's troops while the king's reserves did not move to his aid.
The blackening of his reputation by Tudor historians started debate about his personality and legacy which is ongoing to this day.The blackening of his reputation by Tudor historians started debate about his personality and legacy which is ongoing to this day.
John Wesseldine, from Barwell in Leicestershire, said he had taken sons Jayden and Jenson, aged 10, out of school. John Wesseldine, from Barwell in Leicestershire, said he had taken sons Jayden and Jenson, aged 10, out of school to view the coffin.
Jayden said: "School wasn't going to do a trip to visit the cathedral so dad said he would bring us to see the King's coffin.Jayden said: "School wasn't going to do a trip to visit the cathedral so dad said he would bring us to see the King's coffin.
Mr Wesseldine said: "This is part of their history and is a chance to see a real King. It is a chance they will never get again so we made the effort to come down."Mr Wesseldine said: "This is part of their history and is a chance to see a real King. It is a chance they will never get again so we made the effort to come down."
Later, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, will celebrate Mass for the repose of his soul in Holy Cross Church, the current Catholic parish church and Dominican priory in the city centre.
"The climax will come on Thursday when the Archbishop of Canterbury comes to join us - and the eyes of the world will be on us," the Bishop of Leicester, the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, said."The climax will come on Thursday when the Archbishop of Canterbury comes to join us - and the eyes of the world will be on us," the Bishop of Leicester, the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, said.
On Sunday, Richard's coffin left the University of Leicester where it had been kept since the discovery of his remains in 2012.On Sunday, Richard's coffin left the University of Leicester where it had been kept since the discovery of his remains in 2012.
It was accompanied by the team who made the find to Fenn Lane Farm in the village of Dadlington, the site believed to be the closest to his death.It was accompanied by the team who made the find to Fenn Lane Farm in the village of Dadlington, the site believed to be the closest to his death.
More than 35,000 people lined the route of the cortege as it travelled through Leicestershire and then back into the city for a service at the cathedral.More than 35,000 people lined the route of the cortege as it travelled through Leicestershire and then back into the city for a service at the cathedral.