Back to the Houses Of Lancaster And York calendar
Edward IV died in 1483 and was succeeded by his son Edward V, who’d have guessed. However Edward was only 12 and Edward IV’s
brother, another Richard and Duke of Gloucester but obviously of the House of York, was appointed Lord Protector.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, kindly met Edward, who had been living
in Wales, and travelled with him back to London, ready for the coronation. This is almost a better soap than Coronation Street; I’m waiting for Ken Barlow to appear.
If his name had been Edward Barlow or Richard Barlow, I think he would have made an appearance.
Edward's younger brother, Richard, was hiding in Westminster Abbey along with their mother, Elizabeth. The Duke of Gloucester didn't want young Richard,
who was only 10, to miss something as wonderful as the coronation of his brother so asked, in a demanding sort of way, if Richard could come out of hiding and join
them. His mother agreed and the Duke of Gloucester promised to show them the sights of London. Just like any child, they loved it. However, when they got to the
Tower of London, Gloucester stopped his tour and imprisoned the two princes. Then he cancelled Edward's coronation and a few months later Gloucester said they
weren’t really Edward’s sons at all and declared he was now King and so became Richard III in July 1483. Edward V was never crowned King and, funnily enough, some
450 years later, Edward VIII was never crowned either.
The two princes were obviously entranced by the beauty of the Tower as no one ever saw them again, although a few impersonators do make an appearance
later in this amazing soap, sorry history.
There was a story that Elizabeth, the wife of Edward IV actually handed a servant boy over to the Duke of Gloucester and sent her son away to France.
In true historical fashion, no one knows.
Forward to 1485AD
