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 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 remains and their re-interment 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 English 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 English 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. For more information click here.
Introductory Reading list.
The Society's shop contains books, postcards, prints and much much more. To see what is available to buy please view our catalogue.
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 Communications Manager, Amanda Geary. Please note that the mailing list is available to Society members only.
'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.'
Phil Stone, Society Chairman.
Read full statement.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John Audsley on Sunday 18th August. He was 97. A former member of the Yorkshire Branch, until his death, John was for many years a Vice President of the Society. There will be an obituary in the December Bulletin. Meanwhile we extend our condolences to his family and friends.
The Executive Committee.
We have one last chance to reverse the decision made by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council last year to allow building on part of the registered Bosworth Battlefield. There is a legal possibility to reverse the decision - please help us by signing the petition.
This power — part of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 — can be used at any point until building is complete, so there is still time to get the permission revoked.
If you can, please sign the petition by following this link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/261339.
At 10,000 signatures, government will respond to this petition.
At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Which means the more people that sign, the more chance there is of of saving Bosworth!
All members will know that the Constitution Working Party (CWP) has been looking into the most effective way to establish a legal status for the Society.
To bring about change, our Constitution requires a member-wide ballot to be conducted. Voting papers together with a reply paid envelope have been distributed to all Members by the Electoral Reform Service.
The Constitution Working Party have complied Q&As about the proposed changes which can be accessed here, with further questions answered here.
The result of the ballot requires a two thirds majority of those voting for it to be effective. Members are encouraged to vote and return the ballot paper in good time for the closing date of 22nd August.
The CWP have confirmed that time will be set aside at this year's AGM to further discuss the vote. A statement from the CWP can be read here.
Following discussions at the Society's AGM last year, the Executive Committee are delighted to announce the first in what we hope will be a series of plaques commemorating events in the life of King Richard. The Society has provided a plaque to be displayed on Bestwood Lodge in Nottingham, commemorating Richard's stay there in August 1485. The plaque was unveiled by our Chairman, Dr Phil Stone, on Monday 19th August.
In Fotheringhay Church, starting at 3 pm, there is a programme of ‘easy listening’ classical recitals during the months of July and August:
• 25 Aug: The Ternion Wind Trio
• Further recitals in September.
These are not formal recitals. Members of the audience are free to come and go as they wish, all that is asked that they make a donation towards the daily upkeep of the church. further information.
• 22 Aug, 11:00-11:30: Rose Laying Ceremony
A rose laying ceremony will take place at the Bosworth Sundial Memorial. More details or t: 01455 290429
• 22 Aug, 18:30<: Reinterment Relived: The Dean Reflects
On the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth, David Monteith will offer some reflections on Richard III’s reinterment in March of 2015. Leicester Cathedral at 6.30 pm. Free admission, no booking required.
• 25 Aug, 13.00-16.00: Open Streets Greyfriars: Richard III
From April to October on the fourth Sunday of each month Leicester has a themed afternoon of cycling aimed at families in the city centre. The theme in August will be King Richard III.
The Leicestershire Branch of the Society will be having a stall at this event in the vicinity of King Richard’s Statue and a talk will be given between 14.00-15.00 at either the Richard III Visitor Centre or the Guildhall. More information. Further details will appear after the July event on July 28th.
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.
Article on the will of Cardinal John Morton
The June issue of the Ricardian Bulletin includes an article by Dr Betty Knott on the will of Cardinal John Morton, based on her transcription and translation of his original Latin will. This article originated from Philippa Langley's The Missing Princes Project.
Space restrictions in the Bulletin meant we were unable to include with the article the full will in both its Latin and English form. However, as we stated in the Bulletin, these are being made available online both here (Latin version and English translation) and on the website of The Missing Princes Project.
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.
Please visit our 
page.
• 5 October: Member's Day and AGM, Edinburgh
• 14 December: Christmas at Fotheringhay
The list of venues which offer discounted entry rates for holders of a Richard III Society membership card.
Find out more about events organised by Society Branches and Groups in your local area and beyond.
We are pleased to announce that the 2019 AGM will be held in Edinburgh; marking 20 years of the Scottish Branch, and the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Looking for Richard Project. The Isolde Wigram Memorial Lecture will be given by Dr Arthur Noel Kincaid. Please see June's Ricardian Bulletin for booking details.