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Richard III dig: DNA confirms bones are king

Richard's grave was marked for decades after his death but was then lost for 400 years

A skeleton found beneath a Leicester car park has been confirmed as that of English king Richard III.

Richard’s grave was marked for decades after his death but was then lost for 400 years

Experts from the University of Leicester said DNA from the bones matched that of descendants of the monarch’s family.

Richard was killed in battle in 1485 but his grave was lost when the church around it was demolished in the 16th Century.

The skeleton had suffered 10 injuries, including eight to the skull.

The bones, which are of a man in his late 20s or early 30s, have been carbon dated to a period from 1455-1540.

Richard was 32 when he died at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

Lead archaeologist Richard Taylor, from the University of Leicester, said to applause at a press conference: “Beyond reasonable doubt it’s Richard. This is a historic day for Leicester.”

It has also been confirmed the bones will be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral, yards from where they were found.

Details of the ceremony have yet to be released.

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