Lesson 9: Depth 3

What happened to the ‘Princes in the Tower’?

Activity 1a: Read the information belowActivity 1b: Read about the different suspects

Suspect 1: Richard III

Richard was long believed to be the ‘wicked uncle’ who killed his nephews to secure the throne for himself.

However, many of the ‘facts’ about the case were written by the Tudors, who had defeated Richard in battle to take his throne. There is also evidence to suggest that Richard was very loyal to his family.

Suspect 2: Henry VII

Henry became the first Tudor king in 1485 after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. The princes had a much stronger claim to the throne than Henry, and if they lived they would be an embarrassment to him.

However, there is no evidence to directly connect Henry to the death of the princes.

Suspect 3: Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham

Henry was Richard III’s brother-in-law and Henry VII’s cousin. He publicly supported Richard, but secretly plotted with Henry.

Suspect 4: Sir James Tyrrell

James certainly enjoyed plotting and underhand dealings. In 1502 he was in prison for treason against Henry VII. Under torture, he confessed to killing the princes, but gave no information about why, or whose orders he was following.

People sometimes confess things under torture that they haven’t done, in the hope that the torture will end.

Suspect 5: Lady Margaret Beaufort

Margaret was Henry VII’s mother, and was very keen for him to get the throne. Some people suspect she might have killed the princes to get rid of the competition! Her husband was also Constable (guard) of the Tower of London, where the princes lived.

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Activity 2: Read the evidence cards and label them with the number of the suspect they most incriminate!

Challenge version:

Who do you think is most suspicious?

Activity 2: Read the evidence cards and label them with the number of the suspect they most incriminate!

Simple version:

It is possible the princes didn’t die. Someone later claimed to be the younger prince. There is no definite proof they were murdered.

Richard put the princes in the tower for protection, not necessarily in prison.

Richard said the princes were illegitimate – they had no claim to the throne.

It is true that if the princes’ dad was engaged to someone else, the princes were illegitimate.

The princes were seen playing outside the tower until Easter 1484 when they disappeared. Richard did not nothing when rumours started that the princes had been murdered.

In 1647 workmen found two skeletons in the rubble when rebuilding part of the tower. The skeletons were small enough to belong to the princes.

In 1933, doctors examined the bones and found they were the right ages to match the princes. The doctors said a stain on one of the skulls showed they could have been suffocated.

The doctors said the bones could have been there since 1100, long before the princes were born.

In 1955 other doctors said the skeletons belonged to people younger than the princes would have been.

Henry VII sent the princes’ mother away. She never accused Richard of murder.

After Richard was crowned he spent the summer away with his family. By the end of the summer, the princes had disappeared.

Henry VII gave Sir James Tyrell a lot of land and an important job.

Tyrell later confessed to murdering the princes under torture.

Tyrell also claimed that they had smuggled the boys abroad to protect them, and they were not murdered.

If the princes were still alive when Henry VII became king, they would have been a big embarrassment to him. They had a stronger claim to the throne than him.

Henry VII didn’t claim that the princes were murdered until a year after Richard died.

The Duke of Buckingham was the official carer of the princes and gave him the opportunity to kill them.

Henry VII married the princes’ sister, Elizabeth, to strengthen his claim to the throne. However, her claim to the throne depended on the princes being dead.

The Duke of Buckingham and Richard were great friends, but Buckingham rebelled against Richard and was then executed. Some people say they fell out because Buckingham killed the princes, against Richard’s wishes.

Who do you think is most suspicious?

Activity 3: What happened to the Princes in the Tower?

In your book, write a speech to a judge to persuade them of what you think happened. Write a minimum of one paragraph.

Challenge: sum up why the different potential suspects aren’t to blame, finishing on your argument!