This feature length documentary special (UK Channel 4, 18th November, 8pm) focuses a forensic microscope on the evidence published in Philippa Langley’s remarkable new book The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case. Philippa and eagle-eyed barrister Rob Rinder follow the story of how the two sons of Edward IV disappeared in the summer of 1483 and became the alleged victims of an alleged murder. Posterity (aided by Tudor mouthpieces) spread accusations that Richard III was responsible for ordering their death, as depicted in the most well-known tale of all by Shakespeare. Find more details here.

In line with this Society’s commitment to research, Ricardians demand evidence when accusations are made – and the argument for the Princes’ death at Richard’s hands has never had any vestige of supporting evidence. Philippa set up her Missing Princes Project to ferret out every trace of tangible evidence that could reveal their fate. With no evidence of death uncovered from the reign of King Richard, research groups and individuals signed up for the massive task of scouring archives around the world. And within a few years four documents miraculously came to light.

The irony of these discoveries is that history was already littered with clues that pointed to the elder Prince returning to claim his throne at the Battle of Stoke, and the younger Prince challenging Henry VII in the 1490s. But there was nothing to refute Henry VII’s cover-story that they were both fakes. And until now there was mystery surrounding how they left the Tower and made their way in the world before reappearing publicly. Philippa Langley’s researches offer the missing dimensions that fill in those gaps. Her work continues. But history will never again be satisfied with any unsupported accusation that Richard III killed the ‘Princes in the Tower’.

For information directly from Philippa Langley: https://www.revealingrichardiii.com/langley.html