The Richard III Society
Promoting research into the life and times of Richard III since 1924
Patron: HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO
Richard III by Andrew Stewart Jamieson,
© Richard III Society.
Welcome to the website of the Richard III Society. We have been working since 1924 to secure a more balanced assessment of the king and to support research into his life and times. The rediscovery of his grave and reburial in Leicester Cathedral have raised the king's profile and provided us with new opportunities to make the case for a reappraisal of his life and role in history.
In the belief that many features of the traditional accounts of the character and career of Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society aims to promote, in every possible way, research into the life and times of Richard III, and to secure a reassessment of the material relating to this period, and of the role of this monarch in history.
"… the purpose—and indeed the strength—of the Richard III Society derives from the belief that the truth is more powerful than lies; a faith that even after all these centuries the truth is important. It is proof of our sense of civilised values that something as esoteric and as fragile as reputation is worth campaigning for." Our Patron - the present Richard, Duke of Gloucester. more …
Visit the membership section to learn more about how to join the Society. Membership starts from as little as £12 per year.
The Ricardian is the academic journal of the Richard III Society. Since 2002 it has been published as an annual journal. Many of the editions and articles are now available online through the Ricardian Online website.
The Ricardian Bulletin, the Society’s quarterly members’ magazine, publishes a number of historical articles in each issue. The current selection can be accessed here.
Introductory Reading list.
Online Ricardian Resources
The Barton Library contains hundreds of titles, both non-fiction and fiction that are available for members to borrow. For more information click here.
The Society has a Privacy Policy and you can view it here.
We will sometimes send out emails with the latest news, or information about events we think may be of interest to you. Any member wishing to join, or re-join, our mailing list should e-mail our Web Content Manager, Katie Dungate confirming their wish to be added to the list and providing their Membership Number details. Please note that the mailing list is available to Society members only, and your contact details will not be provided to any third parties.
'A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with the University of Leicester regarding the appropriate use of the images of King Richard’s remains has been obtained. Following a meeting with the University on 29th July 2016 to discuss the use of images, Philippa and I are pleased to announce that the MoU between our two organisations has now been signed and is published here.'
Society Chairman.
Read full statement.
We are pleased to announce the first, second and third prize winners of the 2022 Richard III Society Essay Prize.
• First Prize is awarded to Jake Manketo, Westminster School, for his essay: The collapse of Richard III’s regime at Bosworth in 1485 was the consequence of his approach to kingship. To what extent is this the case?
• Second Prize goes to Fatima Abras, Edgbaston High School for Girls, for her essay: To what extent does Richard III deserve his negative reputation?
• Third Prize is awarded to Patrick Maxwell, St Edward’s School, Oxford, for his essay: Richard III and foreign policy: an attempted resurrection of the Hundred Years War? more …
It is with much sadness that we report the passing of Dr Anne Sutton on Saturday 18 June. Anne had bravely battled cancer for the past two years, stoically continuing with her work culminating in the 2022 edition of The Ricardian and the recent publication of The King’s Work: The Defence of the North under the Yorkist Kings 1471-85. Anne was a member of the Society’s Executive Committee from 1976 until 2020, thereafter of the current Board. She took over the editorship of The Ricardian from Peter Hammond in June 1979 and remained in post until her death. She was also a founder trustee of the Richard III and Yorkist History Trust and for many years its Managing Trustee. The Trust's own tribute to Anne can be found here. more …
In 2024 Barnard Castle will celebrate 550 years since the lordship of the town was granted to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III. Windows for the King will install seven etched glass windows in the porch of St Mary's to mark this anniversary. St Mary’s church council (PCC), in partnership with the Northern Dales Richard III Group (NDRIIIG), are excited to announce a major project to commemorate Richard III, Duke of Gloucester and King of England, in Barnard Castle. Our ‘Windows for the King’ appeal aims to install seven etched glass windows above the inner porch doorway of St Mary’s Parish Church, Barnard Castle to commemorate Richard and his close connection with St Mary’s. more …
We are delighted to announce the details of two very interesting Zoom lectures in July and August.
Subject: The Middleham Jewel in Context: Discovery, Analysis and Meanings.
Speaker: Dr Kate Giles
Time: 14:00 (GMT)
Date: Saturday 16 July 2022
Subject: The Survival of The Princes in The Tower.
Speaker: Matt Lewis
Time: 14:00 (GMT)
Date: Saturday 13 August 2022
As before, this event will be free to Society members and we are pleased to announce the total number of places has now increased to 200 per lecture.
The Richard III Society can exclusively reveal that The Lost King will be released in the UK on 7th October. The film tells the remarkable true story of how one 'ordinary' woman overcame every obstacle to track down the final resting place of Richard III.
Starring Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan, the film's release in cinemas coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the discovery of the remains of Richard III, the last English king to die in battle. In 2012, having been lost for over 500 years, the remains of King Richard III were discovered beneath a car park in Leicester. The search had been orchestrated by an amateur historian, Philippa Langley, whose unrelenting research had been met with incomprehension by her friends and family and with scepticism by experts and academics. more ….
See all What's New items.
Question: What took three years, untold amounts of grit and graft, and produced a glittering result?
Answer: Philippa Langley's quest for the lost grave of Richard III.
Many, including academics and archaeologists – not to mention the media – are still reeling from a success that can only be called stunning!
Philippa Langley next to the grave.
Philippa Langley knew King Richard III had been 'piteously slain' at Bosworth Field. And she knew the Franciscan Friars of Leicester had laid him to rest in a simple grave. But where to look? Was he still there? And would they let her try to find him?
On 25 August 2012 Philippa Langley's quest for the lost grave of Richard III finally came to fruition!
Find out more …
The Looking for Richard team have compiled some frequently asked questions about the project that found King Richard's final resting place in 2012.
Learn more about Philippa’s exciting new research project, and how you can help.
Read the Reburial Diary and Events held by the Society during the historic week in March 2015 and first anniversary in March 2016.
Updated versions of some of John's Powerpoint presentations are available on his web site where you can download them.
We are extremely disappointed that Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have decided to take the very short-sighted decision to grant permission for Horiba Mira to build on part of the registered battlefield of Bosworth, putting financial concerns above the history and heritage of this country. We will be consulting with our friends and colleagues in the Battlefields Trust over the next few days to decide on our next course of action. In the meantime, we would like to express our gratitude to the many hundreds of people who have supported us in our campaign to save the battlefield. Thank you!
The open letter written to the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Planning Committee is available to view here.
John Morton's will transcript
In the June 2019 issue of the Ricardian Bulletin Dr Betty Knott wrote about the will of Cardinal John Morton. This article originated from Philippa Langley's The Missing Princes Project.
Space restrictions meant we were unable to include the full will in both its Latin and English form. However, these are available online in Latin version and English translation, and on the website of The Missing Princes Project.
The Society’s long-awaited education website on the life and times of Richard III, entitled ‘Wars of the Roses’ is now live. The website has been developed by Iain Farrell, the Society’s Education Officer, with the support of the Society’s Research Officer, Joanna Laynesmith.
The content of the website has been guided by the needs of teachers and exam providers to develop in pupils and students the critical analysis of sources and differing interpretations to reach a considered view of events in the distant past. More …
• 16 July 2022: 'The Middleham Jewel in Context: Discovery, Analysis and Meanings' by Dr Kate Giles on Zoom. More …
• 13 August 2022: 'The Survival of The Princes in The Towers' by Matt Lewis on Zoom. More …
• 30 Sept 2022: Memorial Service for Dr Phil Stone - Leicester.
• 1 Oct 2022: Society AGM and Members' Day - Leicester.
Find out more about events organised by Society Branches and Groups in your local area and beyond.
The list of venues which offer discounted entry rates for holders of a Richard III Society membership card.