Princes in the Tower – disappearance of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York
After King Edward IV died in April 1483, his sons Edward V (12) and Richard (9) were placed in the Tower by their uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. They vanished from records by summer 1483; no definitive evidence explains their fate, though murder—often blamed on Richard III—is widely assumed.
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We remember the two young princes whose lives were cut short amid the political turmoil of the Wars of the Roses.
Timeline
- 9 April 1483 — King Edward IV dies unexpectedly.
- 15 April 1483 — News of the king's death reaches his brother, the Duke of Gloucester.
- 29 April 1483 — Edward V and the Duke of Gloucester meet at Stony Stratford on their way to London.
- 30 April 1483 — Gloucester arrests Edward V's retinue; Woodville and Grey are sent to Pontefract Castle.
- 19 May 1483 — Edward V is lodged in the Tower of London.
- 16 June 1483 — Prince Richard joins his brother in the Tower.
- 22 June 1483 — Ralph Shaa preaches that Gloucester is the sole legitimate heir.
- Summer 1483 — Last contemporary sightings of the princes; after this they disappear from records.
- Late July 1483 — An attempted rescue of the princes fails.
- 17 July 1674 — Workmen uncover a wooden box with two small skeletons beneath a Tower staircase.
- 1678 — The bones are interred in Westminster Abbey on the orders of King Charles II.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Edward V and his brother Richard after they were placed in the Tower?
They were last seen in the summer of 1483 and then vanished from contemporary records; their exact fate remains unknown.
Who is most commonly suspected of ordering their deaths?
Many historians and contemporary sources suspect Richard III, their uncle, although no definitive proof exists.
Is there any physical evidence confirming the princes' deaths?
The only physical evidence is the 1674 discovery of two child skeletons, which were long accepted as theirs but have never been conclusively identified.
What contemporary accounts mention the princes after their disappearance?
Dominic Mancini recorded decreasing sightings in 1483; other chronicles and foreign observers reported rumors of their murder, but no eyewitness account of their deaths exists.
Have the 1674 bones been scientifically tested to verify their identity?
They were examined in 1933 for age and condition, but no DNA or modern forensic analysis has been performed, and their identification remains uncertain.
Did any later claimants assert they were the surviving princes?
Yes; Lambert Simnel (1487) and Perkin Warbeck (1491‑1497) each claimed to be one of the missing princes, gaining some contemporary support.
Why is the case considered a mystery rather than a solved crime?
Because the only evidence is circumstantial, contemporary accounts are conflicting, and no definitive forensic proof links any suspect to the princes' disappearance.
Primary sources and references
The cases · Investigation glossary · On this day in history · The daily puzzle · Which detective are you? · Historical word search maker