PART THREE

Lord of The North, Edward’s Man

Leicester, December 7, 2012

Dr. Jo Appleby had undertaken the osteology examination at ULAS (University of Leicester Archeology Services) and was waiting to reveal the results to us…. together with Dr. Piers Mitchell, a scoliosis specialist…

The remains would be on a table in the centre of the darkened room, positioned on a specially designed light box that would illuminate them gently from beneath…the remains would be given as much dignity within the analysis as possible.

I don’t remember the opening words of the session. All I could see was the box that illuminated Richard, his washed bones bright against the darkness. To me he seemed unprotected and I felt like a ghoul invading his privacy….

…Piers Mitchell explained the scoliosis. He had measured the remains…the curvature could have been as much as 80 degrees in life. …It was idiopathic scoliosis, that is, of no known cause: he hadn’t been born with the condition. …It was most likely progressive and may have led to a shortness of breath, due to increased pressure on the lungs. …The curve was a “C” shape in the upper torso, and would have made the right shoulder appear higher than the left…the right clavicle was a different size and shape, much bigger than the left.

—Philippa Langley, The King’s Grave