Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was one of the most powerful figures in England at the time of his brother’s death. Upon assuming the role of protector for his nephew, Edward V, Richard took control of the royal court and quickly began to consolidate power. However, Richard’s rise to power was not without controversy.

One of the first actions Richard took after Edward IV’s death was to have his brother’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville declared invalid. He claimed that Edward IV’s marriage had been invalid because it was made in secret, and he therefore declared that Edward V was not the legitimate son of the late king. This move significantly weakened the claims of the princes to the throne, casting doubt on their legitimacy.

In June 1483, Richard arranged for Edward V to be brought to the Tower of London in preparation for his coronation. Edward V was accompanied by his younger brother, Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, and the two princes were housed in the royal residence within the Tower. The fact that they were placed in the Tower, a fortress and royal prison, was unusual for a coronation, and it fueled suspicions that something was amiss.

The Disappearance of the Princes

The story of the Princes in the Tower takes a darker turn when the boys mysteriously disappeared from public view. After their arrival at the Tower in June 1483, no one saw them again. In early August, Richard of Gloucester was formally crowned as King Richard III, and the boys were no longer mentioned in official royal documents. At first, it was claimed that the princes were still alive, but rumors began to spread that they had been murdered.

The disappearance of the princes created a vacuum of power in England. While Richard III had secured the throne for himself, many saw his actions as treacherous. The legitimacy of his reign was questioned, and soon after, a popular revolt known as the Buckingham Rebellion broke out, aiming to place Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII, on the throne.

By the time Richard III was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, Henry Tudor had succeeded in claiming the throne. Richard III's death and the subsequent ascension of Henry VII marked the end of the Wars of the Roses, but the mystery of the Princes in the Tower was left unresolved. shutdown123