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Anthony Delaney
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Eleanor Jaenega
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Anthony Delaney
You know, I am a believer in America and that's worth fighting for.
Eleanor Jaenega
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Anthony Delaney
Two boys are on their way to bed in the Tower of London. They hold hands as they make their way up a spiral staircase. A sound makes them jump and look back together in fright. But nothing is there. Not yet. And yet they have been stalked by growing unease in recent weeks, have felt the walls closing in, the windows darkening. These two boys, these princes of England, are in trouble. Very soon they will have vanished into the Tower's stone walls. Their clothes, their belongings, everything will disappear without a trace. This is history's greatest Cole case. What happened to the two princes who disappeared in the tower? The 12 year old Edward V and his 9 year old brother Richard of York were taken to the Tower of London to await Edward's coronation after his father's death. Next thing, the princes are gone, just disappeared. And their uncle Richard is suddenly crowned King Richard III in their place. But did Richard kill them? Did somebody else? Did they flee and live long lives abroad and then return to England for vengeance? For centuries, historians have fiercely debated their fate. Today, here on After Dark, we will solve the mystery of what happened to the princes in the tower. Hello there and welcome back to After Dark. I'm Anthony.
Eleanor Jaenega
And I'm Eleanor.
Anthony Delaney
And today we are going to be solving. Yes, solving Eleanor. We're going to be solving one of medieval history's biggest myths or controversies or debates. And. Well, first of all, I'm gonna let you describe what it is we're gonna be solving. But this, we have people in different camps on this particular episode, people even on the history hit team in different camps. And we're gonna. Obviously we're hosting this, but you're also gonna hear from our brilliant colleague Matt Lewis, who is also your co host on Gone Medieval. And Phoebe, who is our researcher on After Dark. Phoe has also had some stakes in this. She works at the Tower of London when she's not researching for us. So we're gonna be hearing a few different opinions and viewpoints on this, and then we will make the definitive conclusion. You don't need to look any further for your outcome of this particular mystery. Tell us what the mystery is, Eleanor.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay, today we are talking about the princes in the tower. Now I hear you cry in your soul, Anthony.
Anthony Delaney
Yes, go on.
Eleanor Jaenega
Which princes in which tower?
Anthony Delaney
Well, now I'm gonna say this as well. Am I being pedantic here? Am I missing something? This could be very me, actually, now that I'm saying this out loud for the first time, there weren't princes in the tower, technically, well, potentially, there was a king and a prince.
Eleanor Jaenega
That's correct.
Anthony Delaney
So whoever. The Victorians, right, Did they package this?
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, it's sentimentality is what that is, you know, and fundamentally, if you call them the princes in the tow than the entire thing. It's just like you're agreeing that he oughtn't to have been king. That's my point. Yeah, that's my point.
Anthony Delaney
Right, we're gonna delve into all of this, but do answer your own question, because which princess? Which tower?
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay, so you've already slightly answered the question because our wonderful researcher Phoebe works at the Tower of London. We're talking about the Tower of London, Right. Oh, yeah, you love her. I love her.
Anthony Delaney
I've given that away already.
Eleanor Jaenega
Wow. Listen, we simply love to see her. She has been around for quite some time. By the time we princes getting into her. She was originally built by William the Conqueror when he arrived in London, because it turns out people didn't really like the Normans had just taken over.
Anthony Delaney
They're going to bolt hole themselves in safety.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, basically. So it's like you have to have a big castle so that you can go out and take on any rebellious townspeople as and when and also intimidate them a little bit.
Anthony Delaney
Sure.
Eleanor Jaenega
At various points in its life, it is a palace where the kings do live. But by the time we are creeping up to the end of the medieval, it's more like a jail because we're
Anthony Delaney
right on the verge of Tudor land here. Right.
Eleanor Jaenega
That is right. So we are just getting into the early modern period. A lot of other castles have been built in the meantime that are more luxurious, more comfortable. When the king is in London, he's usually staying in houses as opposed to in the tower, because by this point in time, it's not so much of a worry that the Angles will rise against him. You know, these sorts of things. And you use it more for high profile captives. Warden, it's not like a prison for like Bob who stole a sheep.
Anthony Delaney
Bob, he needs to leave a sheep alone. And actually, you know, they don't come much more high profile than the heir to the throne and the spare.
Eleanor Jaenega
That's right. And that's who we're dealing with here. So we've got technically Edward V. Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
Not a prince, if you, if you follow the line of inherited monarchy.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly. So he's 12. Right. And he's there with his little brother. And his little brother is Richard of York, who is nine.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
And what has happened at this point is their dad, who is Edward IV dies.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
He dies in April 1483. He is 40 years old. Which is not a good innings.
Anthony Delaney
No. Even for. People have this misconception. Right. That it's like, well, they lived to be 23. That was great for the day. That's not really how that was working.
Eleanor Jaenega
No. In average age, I hasten to remind everyone, the way that you get average age is you, you take all the ages. Yeah. And you put them together and then you divide by it. And at this point in time, and indeed up until we invent vaccines, infant mortality. So everybody, everybody usually dies. You get 50% of all children die before the age of two.
Anthony Delaney
So this is dragging that down.
Eleanor Jaenega
So it drags it Right down. So it drags it right down. So people tend to live usually into their 60s, oftentimes further.
Anthony Delaney
Yes. Yeah. And you will hear people in their 80s, in their 90s. Oh, yeah. It's not usual to be living into your 90s in the late medieval, early modern period, but it's not unheard of at the same time.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. Everybody knows somebody.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, exactly.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's not that word. So 40, that's not a good innings being cut short. Yeah, yeah. So, like, that's unfortunate because this creates a power vacuum. Right. Just in the way that 40 is not a good innings. 12 isn't a great age for a
Anthony Delaney
kid to be reigning.
Eleanor Jaenega
No, no.
Anthony Delaney
So we're going to need some form, then, based on my bit of knowledge about the early modern kingship, we're going to need some form of a protectorate. I'm imagining.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yes, that's okay. And so into that gap steps their beloved Uncle Richard, who we will know
Anthony Delaney
probably best as Richard iii.
Eleanor Jaenega
That is. Right.
Anthony Delaney
Okay. My Richards get a bit shaky sometimes, but yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
And he's like, my lovely lads. My two little nephews. What better place to keep you both safe? Safe before the inevitable coronation of Edward V, but in the Tower of London.
Anthony Delaney
And we.
Eleanor Jaenega
So for real.
Anthony Delaney
But of course, they're 12, so they're gonna be like, okay, yeah. But here's the thing. If in. I think this is really important to remember, right, because we've spoken about this. They're not both princes in this line of succession business, Edward V now has automatically, the moment his father took his last breath and his heart stopped beating, even without the coronation, he has become the king. But there is a solemnization.
Eleanor Jaenega
Correct.
Anthony Delaney
That has to come with that through the coronation. So in order to make that official, the oils have to be placed on him in strategic places and all that kind of thing. So, yes, he has passed one threshold of kingship, but the holy, the divine element of this kingship has not yet occurred. When Richard says, we're going to the Tower boys.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly. And I know now that seems very silly to us, but it is very serious to them at the time. You have to have the anointing, you have to have God recognize it or it hasn't happened.
Anthony Delaney
It's not real.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, yeah, exactly. So we do need this coronation to take place. So originally, this coronation is meant to take place on the 4th of May.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
1483.
Anthony Delaney
When does dad die?
Eleanor Jaenega
Dad died in April. Right.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, you know, that's quick. Yeah, well, yeah, yeah, it's ordinary to
Eleanor Jaenega
do that because you need a King.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. And you need it to be solemnized.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's like you just got to like going, you have to. The thing about monarchy is that it has to perpetuate itself lest vacuums occur. So you need to say who is going to be in charge. Yeah. England is a unique place in that the king is always getting killed and all kinds of weird things are happening that usually doesn't happen in other countries. But England's just wild.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Like that. So listen, this is a country that has lived through the anarchy. This is a country that has very recently gone through some civil wars. You know, there's been some light takeovers by certain queens and things like that. So we do see basically the line of succession get messed with occasionally. So it's very, very important in an English context to get this done as quickly as possible. So we're supposed to have it on the 4th of May and then Richard is like, listen, May she May. What about like, I don't know, I'm just feeling really good about like the 22nd of June.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
What about the 22nd of June?
Anthony Delaney
We're near some, we're on the verge of better weather. Just the gold's going to look shinier.
Eleanor Jaenega
We'll have a garden party. It's going be great. But then it's funny because then like that just doesn't happen.
Anthony Delaney
No. Perfect. Good job.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's wild that that doesn't happen. And instead Richard III is crowned king in July and ue le prince.
Anthony Delaney
Well, well. And such as the age old question. But now we have this, this man who was not next in line. But, but, but I do think that's really important what you're saying about the, the idea that this line of inheritance that is supposed to be unfolding for the last few iterations hasn't necessarily gone how it should have gone. Anyway.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
So in some ways we're in usual territory. Despite the fact that in the long span it's quite unusual that this is happening.
Eleanor Jaenega
Oh, absolutely. I mean, it is unusual. Anywhere else in Europe. Anywhere else in Europe everyone would be like, what are you talking about? In England it's like, yeah, I don't know, things got really crazy for a while and we made some different decisions. Now usually military force is involved in that.
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
But I hasten to add that for example, with the anarchy, when we have a disputed king, essentially he gets there, Steven gets there by just getting crowned first. Stephen's back, Steven's back, back again. Oh my God. Oh, cut that out. Don't let anyone know. I'M making Eminem references in the year of our six.
Anthony Delaney
I did it already.
Eleanor Jaenega
Ok. Okay. All right.
Anthony Delaney
My seven year old nephew loves Eminem, by the way.
Eleanor Jaenega
Oh, God bless.
Anthony Delaney
It's really strange.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, the kids, you know, the alts are back.
Anthony Delaney
I don't know how that has happened.
Eleanor Jaenega
You've seen the low rise jeans.
Anthony Delaney
It's happening. I have.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yes, it's happening. But so when Steven gets to be king, it's because he got the coronation first. And ultimately two things can be true. You're supposed to become king if you're the eldest son of a king and you're alive. That's true. But also whoever gets their first wins
Anthony Delaney
because God has designed that that person. Even if it's not the bloodline. God has said it's him.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yep.
Anthony Delaney
And it's very often a him. Most people.
Eleanor Jaenega
I'm going to be so for real with you. That is correct. Yeah. Like so. You know, it's weird for anywhere else but not so much for England. Right, right.
Anthony Delaney
So we have Ricky 2. No, he's Ricky III.
Eleanor Jaenega
Pretty Ricky.
Anthony Delaney
Right. Keep it in. It doesn't matter. We have Ricky III on, not Rocky iii. Ricky III on the throne. And he has Wease. Um, all the Ricardians will be very sad that I used the word weasel. I'm sorry but you know, I'm just using it for narrative effect. So. So that's one of the people that is now in place. What has happened to the other two co stars? Our former king slash prince.
Matt Lewis
Wow.
Eleanor Jaenega
Wow.
Anthony Delaney
End of episode. Thank you for watching.
Eleanor Jaenega
Basically like where, where are they? Where is the.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. Where are they right now?
Eleanor Jaenega
We don't know.
Anthony Delaney
They should be in the tower.
Eleanor Jaenega
They should be in the tower. Last anybody heard they were in the tower. Yeah. The last time they are seen.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Is in the kind of late spring of 1480.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay.
Anthony Delaney
Now is anybody asking where they are?
Eleanor Jaenega
Yes.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, good.
Eleanor Jaenega
Some people are missing children. Like where did. Where those kids go?
Anthony Delaney
Remember those two?
Eleanor Jaenega
Where do those guys go?
Anthony Delaney
You know, anybody see Edward and your man? What's the other fellow's name?
Eleanor Jaenega
And you know we're still asking this question. A lot of people are still looking in, into this. There's a lot of ongoing investigation, of course, my darling Matt Lewis, my co host has for history hit done a really great episode that is called the Survival of the Princes in the Tower. You've got Philippa Langley very famously heading up the missing princes project. You've got people around the shop looking for them.
Anthony Delaney
Still looking for them now like in really active Terms.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, absolutely. You know, people are sometimes digging up skeletons in the tower. You know, there are debates about whether or not some bones that we think might be the princess should be DNA tested. You know, this is a hot topic.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. Still. And It's a Channel 4 documentary. If we were able to do this one, that's gonna be. More cameras are gonna be on that. You know, if that DNA testing ever happens, you can be sure there's a documentary crew that's going to be there watching us completely. You have. It's a tragic tale. Right. It's like children have died. Or if you don't believe they have, maybe they haven't. But in terms of that haunting, they need to be dead. Haunt. So in that strain of thinking, they're there and they're children and it's all very tragic. And so tragedy manifests itself in haunting. And, you know, it makes sense in that. In that context. But do we know anything about those final. Well, they've disappeared. Sure. Okay. We can say that with confidence. But what were they doing before they disappeared? How are their lives unfolding? Were they being treated as. Was Edward being treated as the heir at that point? What's the story? Do we know?
Eleanor Jaenega
So, kind of. But the trouble that we have with this entire story is there are camps on either side that feel incredibly strongly about this. And also a lot of what we tend to hear happens afterwards. So it'll be people who are reporting at a remove of decades. And oftentimes also, the way people talk about this is in a particularly politicized context. So the way that most people come to know the story or anything about Richard III is usually via Shakespeare.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They'll have an insight through that. Right, yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
And Shakespeare obviously is writing for the Tudor court very specifically, and so he's writing plays that are going to delight the Tudors and what justifies them being on the throne but the fact that Richard III was very naughty man indeed and he deserved to be overthrown. Yes, essentially. So we do have ideas about what was going on at the time, but they mostly sort of come from later
Anthony Delaney
shooter propaganda type sources.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly.
Anthony Delaney
Would you say? I know this is a small bit of a tangent, but I think it's probably worth exploring. Would you say that one of the reasons this particular story or history persists is because of Shakespeare's intervention? I mean, you know, it's compelling in itself, but then it has this. A version of it includes stage life with this and then Shakespeare. So it's a pretty big deal, I
Eleanor Jaenega
think so Yeah, I think that we really can't discount that. And I think that also, you know, we've got him to blame for the way that people just want to kiss and make out with. The Tudors all the time too, are like some of the most uniquely awful people in history, it really has to be said. So there is this kind of reification and lionization of the Tudors from this period that is directly linked to Shakespeare. And now like, I'm like, love Shakespeare, hate the Tudors. Simple S. Do you know what?
Anthony Delaney
I'm not even a big fan of Shakespeare anymore. Wow. I used to be. I used to be. But I'll tell you what happens to me after a while. If somebody. I'm like this in the 18th century with Horace Walpole, for instance, if somebody gets all the headlines from a particular era, I really, my brain just starts to sideline them a little bit.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay, so you're like a Marlow guy now.
Anthony Delaney
Where am I? Yeah, like, just because it's like the underdog is a little bit more appealing or the lesser known.
Eleanor Jaenega
You're just trying to be cool. What about Twelfth Night, dog?
Anthony Delaney
What about Twelfth Night? I was trying to be cool. Is this what would be happening in my life?
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, like, listen. Yeah, all the cool.
Anthony Delaney
I've gone all the wrong ways about this. I have a description here from an Italian diplomat called Manicci. Am I saying that right?
Eleanor Jaenega
Manici?
Anthony Delaney
Sure, why not? And it is about the disappearance of the prince in the tower. And he is saying, and these are his translated words, obviously the two princes were shut up in the Tower of London. Again, this is retrospectively applied. And day by day began to be seen more rarely behind the bars and windows. Is that a. Is that a dubious description? Yeah, I'm suspicious of that. Just the bars and windows thing. Anyway, until at length they ceased to appear altogether. Now there's probably elements of truth there, right? Already there is a suspicion that they have been done away with. The elder prince, Slash, almost king, as I have learned from those who knew him, was afraid that he would be murdered and kept repeating his confession daily thinking death was at hand. I mean, it's very evocative. These. That's a 12 year old boy you're talking about there.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
And you're pulling on hard strings because a scared child is a. You know, that's like, we're not monsters, right?
Eleanor Jaenega
And okay, so what I would say here is it isn't weird. First of all, it's not weird that the princes are in the tower. You usually go to the tower when you are getting ready for your coronation.
Anthony Delaney
Right, right.
Eleanor Jaenega
Like, listen, this is what the Normans do. You go and you are very particularly saying that you are a part of this unbroken succession of kings, even if it's very much like it's done been broke a couple times already. But you go to the tower first, you prep and then you go over to Westminster Abbey. There's a big procession through London. You go to Westminster Abbey, say the magic words, bada bing, bada boom.
Anthony Delaney
You're the king and the magic words are bada bing, bada boom.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
From what I remember.
Eleanor Jaenega
God goes, and then you're done.
Anthony Delaney
He's our guy.
Eleanor Jaenega
But it is weird that this whole thing just becomes very truncated. It's like, well, where are the princes? They are being kept very particularly in a tower at the time which is called the Garden Tower, that kind of looks over the White Tower. We call it the Bloody Tower now.
Anthony Delaney
And is it because of this that we call it the Bloody Tower?
Eleanor Jaenega
Partially. This is also where, like a lot of condemned people will then be sent. Not that the princes are condemned in any sense.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. Is it true to say at this point? Because we know that there was decent accommodation at the tower for higher class. You know, I'm not saying, like, not overly luxurious, but twas okay if it needed to be. Is it the same at this moment in time?
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen. Probably, probably. The Garden Tower is nicer than what most people in London are living.
Anthony Delaney
There you go. See? Yeah, yeah. It's not a palace, but yeah, we're good.
Eleanor Jaenega
It'll be fine. It's got a roof.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
There's a fireplace. Yeah, you'll be. Yeah, it's okay.
Anthony Delaney
You've got some food coming into you here and there. I also have the very famous, of course. Image that is way, way, way later. 1878.
Eleanor Jaenega
The Victorians, they love it.
Anthony Delaney
The Victorians. Look at that hair. That is very Hoxton hair now. Is it it?
Eleanor Jaenega
I love their little black outfit.
Anthony Delaney
I know. So do I. Is that supposed to symbolize mourning? I'm sure it is.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, it is. It's like because their dad just died.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
And that's the other thing to keep in mind. Like, it's gotta be like, you know, again, this is a 12 year old. Right. And your dad just died. And now it is alleged that you're also in fear for your life.
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
That's a lot for a kid.
Anthony Delaney
And he has a lovely bevel.
Eleanor Jaenega
I know.
Anthony Delaney
On that step. And the lovely blowout hairdo.
Eleanor Jaenega
I know, I wish.
Anthony Delaney
And they're holding hands. And they're kind of. I mean, they're where they absolutely probably never would have been, which is. These are the two boys, obviously, we're talking about. They're standing on a stairway that's curving up into an unseen. Now, it's very reminiscent of what you would find in that kind of a structure. But the boys are not hanging out on that staircase.
Eleanor Jaenega
No, listen to me. Also, if you go and you visit the Bloody Tower now, which everyone should do. Oh, I just love the Tower of London. But the staircase is really tiny.
Anthony Delaney
You know, it looks so big there.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like on. Granted, this is like tall people problems, but every time I go up those staircases, I have to, like, put my hand on them so I don't bonk my noggin.
Anthony Delaney
And how tall are you?
Eleanor Jaenega
Six' one.
Anthony Delaney
You're taller than me. I'm six. Same height as Jesus. That's what my granddad just said.
Eleanor Jaenega
Just, you know, listen to me. That's how we make a min. Kilkenny. All right?
Anthony Delaney
So, yeah, actually, people are quite short
Eleanor Jaenega
in Kenny generally, like, but in my family.
Anthony Delaney
Not in my family. Yeah,
Eleanor Jaenega
foreign.
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Anthony Delaney
Right. So we don't know what happened to them, but people have theories and so now we're moving into the theories part of what happened to these two little boys. The first one. One. It was Richard who done it.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. Grow up.
Anthony Delaney
No. You're saying no, listen to me.
Eleanor Jaenega
This is a, this is a busy man.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
He's got things to do.
Anthony Delaney
Can I just ask, when they say that it was Richard who, Donna, do they literally mean Richard's own hand?
Eleanor Jaenega
Like a lot of people say that. Yeah. Like there, there will be like things where it's like, oh yeah, he went in there and he knifed him or he smothered them or whatever. And what, what are you? Kings? Barely. Like, they don't know how to cook.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
G. Like, like kings don't know how to do anything for themselves. And granted he's, he's not a king, but he was a duke. You know, this is not an individual who's used to getting his hands dirty.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
And I mean, I suppose within this you could say, well, he really wants to do away with the princess. Okay. Like I can see, I can see that. And like this is like the best way to keep it down.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
But like, like also by the time you've done away with them. Who care.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. Like, does it really. And actually in some ways the fact that it was done at the hand of the king who is now on the throne kind of legitimizes you being there, despite the fact that it's quite gruesome and everything. But such is the struggle for a throne. I suppose if you were to look at, I mean, again, that's, I'm just using that as an argument because this is obviously a 12 year old boy that we're talking about. And even in the context of, you know, childhood is not exactly understood in the same ways as we understand childhood today. But 12 year old boy is still seen in terms of being a child. Right. That's why they would have needed a protectorate in order to, if he had been crowned. So we have then this idea that Richard killed him. You've hinted at this already, but let's drill down into it a little bit. More why? Why is that a useful theory to be out there?
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, it explains why Richard becomes king, which is really weird. There's absolutely no reason that he should have become king. Really.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Now also, we have this theory crop up kind of almost right away. So we have a narrative written by a guy called Thomas Moore.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, I've heard of him.
Eleanor Jaenega
You may have heard of him. You may have heard of him.
Anthony Delaney
Now we're into the tutors.
Eleanor Jaenega
But he writes a history of Richard iii in the 16th century. So it's like from 1513 to 1518. And he's like, richard killed those kids.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
And that's where it's. It's spoken aloud. So we have the Italian going, I'm really worried about these kids. They're really scared. And we're seeing less and less of them. That certainly is true. Right. But the first person to ever kind of speak it forth into the world is Thomas Moore.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, I didn't know that. He's the first person to put those in England. Right. To put those bits together to go, here's your complete narrative that you might have been missing some of the details, but actually, I can fill in the blanks.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. Because the rest of it is kind of gossip.
Anthony Delaney
Sure.
Eleanor Jaenega
So we've heard from the Italian. It's also true that the Spanish Spanish are gossiping about this. So Diego de Varra, he is the Spanish ambassador to the English crown. And he writes back in 1486 and he's like, yeah, Richard killed those kids. Right. Like, so people are gossiping.
Anthony Delaney
And 1486 is important. Right. Because by remind, this is me delving back into my mind a little bit now. 1485 is the start of the Tudors on the throne. Am I right? So. So it's still starting to link this idea of that murder by Richard to the Tudors. For the Tudor's benef, it's still within that timeframe. Even though it's quite quick after their disappearance and after Richard comes to the throne, it's still. If we're using that as a timeframe, we're now into the Tudors.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, absolutely. And listen, this is when it gets all twisted because you've got Shakespeare. We've already talked about it during this. Like, much is made of the fact that Richard iii, according to them, is a hunchback. We do know that he had a spinal problem when we found his body. That checks out, but it's like, not all of that. And you gotta understand that for medieval and early modern people, you bring up things like this in Order to discredit people, to say that they're evil. There's this idea that beauty means that one is aligned with God. Right. So, like, you know, anyone who is, like, beautiful, it's because God just loves it.
Anthony Delaney
It's a perfection thing.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly.
Anthony Delaney
I mean, we still have it today. In some ways. We don't link it to God so much, but.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, it does.
Anthony Delaney
Equal. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Right. So there's this idea that, like, he is uniquely unvirtuous by dint of having a spinal problem. And because that is socially how things work at the time, that's kind of believable.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Matt Lewis
Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
It feeds into their belief system. And you've pointed this out a couple of times when we've been lingering in the medieval era while you've been in. Eleanor and I really love this. About how easy it is for us to dismiss those things as. Well, that's clearly bullshit. Or that. That God. How horrendous is that? And this doesn't. This. This goes against everything we know and our values. But. But in terms of their value system, we cannot underestimate how much sense that would have made for them. And I think that's important for us to bear in mind.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. It is really one of those things where it's difficult. We can't see air because it surrounds us. Right. It's very difficult to understand that you're within a culture. When you're within it, you think that's just how things are.
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
Right.
Anthony Delaney
We're not questioning this at this particular moment.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly.
Anthony Delaney
Not only does he say that Richard is responsible. Thomas Moore. I'm talking about here. Not only does he say that Richard is responsible, actually gives a description of the murder. So where he's gotten this from now? God, we have names. I'm just saying them. Okay, I'll read it out and you can tell us how much to ignore.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay.
Anthony Delaney
Miles Forrest and John Dighton, I'm assuming. Yeah, sure. D, I G H, T O N.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, don't ask me how to pronounce English names. I have no idea what's happening.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, I'm Irish. We all have excuses. About midnight, the silly children. Oh, the silly children lying in their beds, came into the prince's chamber and suddenly bundled them up among the bedcloth, be wrapped and entangled them, pinning them down by force into the feather bed and pressing pillows hard onto their mouths. That within a while, smoored and stifled. I presume that's some kind of relation to smothered, right? Yeah. Their breath failing, they gave up to God their innocent souls into the joys of heaven, leaving to the tormentors their bodies dead bed. In the bed drama.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, very dramatic. Yeah, very dramatic and also like somewhat believable. So within this we've got like Rich on Richard's orders. Right. And also it's been alleged, the reason we have kind of like names, right, yeah. That like some people eventually confess to killing this. So interesting point here. Right. Like we've got these named names in Thomas.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. I'm surprised to see this.
Eleanor Jaenega
We got this Miles Forest, we've got this John Dighton, but we've got another guy, completely different guy, Sir James Tyrell. And he's like, yo, I killed a couple. Some princes may have been murdered by.
Anthony Delaney
Under his instruction.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, basically. Yeah. Okay, so that.
Anthony Delaney
When is that. Do we know when that confession happens? Is it during the tutors again?
Eleanor Jaenega
Bingo. Yeah. So it's like. Again, this is just sort of like it's all shaping up the way the Tudors need it to shape up, up, you know, and like quite why one would confess, like perhaps under some duress.
Anthony Delaney
Yes, yes, you. Or to just gain favor to align themselves more closely with Henry vii, like all of the above. But it's there. We have a. We do actually have a confession then.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, we do. And I think that it is interesting and worth considering because there is.
Anthony Delaney
Is one we can never know necessarily.
Eleanor Jaenega
We don't know how exactly or why. You know, like there. There are reasons that people do things. Could he just be literally in terror for his immortal soul? Yeah. Yes, 100%.
Anthony Delaney
It's just as legit as anything else. Right.
Eleanor Jaenega
And like literally the way that you're supposed to deal with things, if you've murdered someone, one of the big things that priests will say to you if you want, like any chance of absolution, is that you have to go confess. You have to confess and take on whatever it is you're going to have to face. Right.
Anthony Delaney
And is it him that names Miles Forest and John Dighton?
Eleanor Jaenega
This is an interesting one because, yeah, he's the one who points the finger. So this is the exact opposite of who will rid me of this meddling priest. Right. This is like, hey, Miles and John, what's happening, guys? Can I get you to do some light regicide? So, yeah, he's naming names. This is how we get these names.
Anthony Delaney
Okay. I mean, it's something in a piece of history that we feel like we have nothing. It's something at the very least. And as you say, it's worth kind of considering. I'm going to move on to the next theory. Theory two, and that is apparently that somebody else killed them. Who? And might that somebody else be Eleanor? And why?
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay, so one of the big names that we get in this is Margaret Boat for. Okay, big one.
Anthony Delaney
Big one.
Eleanor Jaenega
So she's Henry VII's mom.
Anthony Delaney
She is.
Eleanor Jaenega
And the idea here is that maybe she wanted people to not, like, Richard.
Anthony Delaney
Yes. Well, yeah, because, like, it benefits the cheaters.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, exactly. It's like she's trying to make this claim for, like, this obscure branch of the family, like, from Wales.
Anthony Delaney
Yes, yes, yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
Please calm down. You know, like. And she's trying to be like, oh, I think
Anthony Delaney
this is her exact voice.
Eleanor Jaenega
So, like. So basically the idea here is that somebody else has done it to make Richard III look bad, right. So that everyone will go, damn, bro, you sure did kill your nephews. Oh, right.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Right. And so, like, now, here's the thing about it. We don't have any evidence from the time for this. No, this is just like a vibe. This is a vibe, and it's partially a vibe based off of Philippo Gregory's fiction. Fiction.
Anthony Delaney
Right. So this is. So then that. That must mean it's relatively recently taken on real legs, then. I'm sure there was probably snippets of it around because potentially those rumors informed Philippa when she was researching and writing that piece of fiction. But now it's taken a bit more mainstream, maybe. Or.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, I love it. It's quite modern. It's like a women in men's fields.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Like, women can murder princes, too.
Anthony Delaney
We call it the girl bossification of history on that.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly. So, you know, like, this. We. This is a very new theory.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's kind of fun.
Anthony Delaney
Okay. I'm gonna come out and say I don't buy it that way.
Eleanor Jaenega
I know.
Anthony Delaney
I know that first one, I'm a bit like, okay, there's stuff there. Like, there's either a murder committed on Richard's orders, not by him, not at his hand, but there's something in that. Okay, so we have Margaret. I'm not buying that. So we can conclusively rule her out.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay. So exactly how do you feel about the Duke of the Buckingham?
Anthony Delaney
I am only very familiar with the 17th century and onward. Duke of Buckingham.
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, okay, so this one in particular is Henry Stafford.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Again, he's. Yep. Got some relations to the throne. Pretty distant. He had been aligned with Richard. Okay, okay. But then he does, like, a light coup against him in 10-14-83. And he decides that he's going over to Henry VII's claim to the throne instead. Right? So the girls are fighting, as they
Anthony Delaney
always are, this period of time.
Eleanor Jaenega
So the question is, did he turn on Richard
Anthony Delaney
to frame him?
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. Like, could he have killed the princes for Richard before him and then be like, oh, yeah. Like, actually, actually, it was like him. Right? Like, maybe he was. Maybe he was trying to do a meddlesome priest, which was what we're calling it here.
Anthony Delaney
How did you. Do you confess? No. I mean. No.
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, I mean, the thing is, like, he gets killed in November 1483 because
Anthony Delaney
of the whole coup thing Bill Cam does.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
So, okay, so he's not.
Eleanor Jaenega
Oh, yeah. Like, so. I mean, so it's kind of like a nice one to pin it on. Because it's like, well, he dead anyway.
Anthony Delaney
That's exactly where my suspicion is coming from.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's like. And they're like, oh, yeah, like, I bet that he did it.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Because then it's like, well, you can't even be mad at me.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Cuz like, I already killed that guy. Right.
Anthony Delaney
And question that you can't look into. Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. And like, he is also kind of like a very distant relative of Margaret Burford. So, like, maybe there's like a whole. Maybe it's a whole thing.
Anthony Delaney
Okay. Could be links into it. It did. You know, I'm. Again, I think it's a little. I'm gonna. No, we can rule that out conclusively. Put one of those stamp pictures over this and say discredited.
Eleanor Jaenega
Not like a name. Name names. Someone else? Probably not. Okay.
Anthony Delaney
Okay. Now we're on to theory number three. And this is where our good friend Matt Lewis comes in. We're gonna hear from Matt in just a second. It'll, like, you're right back at God. Evil. But this theory is the no one did it theory and that they were. Weren't murdered at all.
Matt Lewis
Hi, Eleanor. I hope you're enjoying a moment away from the gone medieval dungeon. I can see you've got the devastatingly handsome, incredibly witty, and incalculably wise Lord Anthony there with you. I've almost finished my purchase of 100 copies of Queer Georgians. Just waiting for Anthony's verdict on this question.
Eleanor Jaenega
Really?
Matt Lewis
Can I sum up my position on the princes in the Tower in a couple of minutes? No, I cannot. But here goes. I think both survived Richard III's reign and challenged Henry VII for his crown. He cast them as Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck. And we've Fallen for his lies ever since. There's plenty of evidence to at least suggest their continued existence beyond 1485. There's no actual evidence of deaths, at least from 1483 to 1485. There's a bit of hearsay and some gossip, but that's not admissible evidence, as anyone who starred brilliantly in a crime drama will tell you. If Richard was going to kill them, he had to tell everyone they were dead to prevent them from being a threat to his throne. Otherwise, he killed them for no gain at all. In the 1490s, crowned heads of Europe recognized the younger of the princes in the Tower as the rightful King of England. We more often call him Perkin Warbeck. But the point here is that I don't believe kings would say, you can pass off a common boy as a king. It would tarnish their own sacred majestic and open the door for someone to do exactly the same thing to them. No gain would be worth that risk. Much of our image of them is affected by romantic Victorian portraits of them looking off in different directions, wondering when the murderer is due. Is he late yet? Edward asks young Richard. Even the dog gets in on the act, for crying out loud. There's plenty more to think about, but my time is just about up. Anthony, take good care of the Queen of gone medieval. I have every faith that you'll reach the correct decision. Now, do I hit buy on these books or not?
Eleanor Jaenega
Light bit of blackmail.
Anthony Delaney
That is the most compelling argument.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, the amount of references he got
Anthony Delaney
in there, he must have been in my Wikipedia of age. We've got crime dramas, Georgians, not to
Eleanor Jaenega
mention personal flattery, which my man can research.
Anthony Delaney
I fall for it. That's every single time. That's my boy. I will say this. There was one particular point which he said that I went, oh, that's interesting. That deserves a little bit of a discussion between you and I here. We're gonna have to pick this up with Matt as well, just for balance, to get Matt in to talk about this. The idea that if Richard had been involved, even if it wasn't at his own hands, but had been involved in the dispos true heir, that actually might benefit him to let people know that he was dead. How do you think that stacks up?
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, I mean, I think that that is an interesting point, but fundamentally he also just doesn't ever offer an explanation. He's just like, damn, that's crazy. Anyway, I'm the king now. Like, there's never any discussion about, like, where the princes are, right?
Anthony Delaney
Does he ever Say anything after. After.
Eleanor Jaenega
He's just like, wow, that's crazy. Where'd those guys go?
Anthony Delaney
I used to know.
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, I guess if no one's around, if no one wants to be king, I guess I'll be the king.
Anthony Delaney
I guess one of the things I found really compelling, so I'm gonna have to give it the same weight in this. In the earlier thing is we suddenly got names. We had the people who potentially killed the princes and the Tower. In theory, one, it's a lot of tease. Now we have more names, names that Matt mentioned there. We have Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck. So. So these are people we can trace in the archive.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. Why.
Anthony Delaney
Why are they not?
Creon Medication Announcer
Or.
Anthony Delaney
Or. Well, why in your mind, are they not the princes in the Tower?
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, listen, Perkin Warbeck, he's like, hey, what's up? It's your boy, Richard of York. That's right.
Anthony Delaney
He's pretending to be the younger fella.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. And he's like, hello, it's me. Thanks very much.
Anthony Delaney
Do they turn up together or separately?
Eleanor Jaenega
No, separately. Separately. So they come back to England through different routes, sometimes through Ireland, sometimes over from the French lands. And he comes in and he claims that he is Richard of York, which I think is an interesting one. I think it's interesting.
Anthony Delaney
That he's the younger one.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, that he's the younger one and not. So that's quite interesting. Then we also have Lambert Simnel, and he is specifically connected to an uprising in 1487. He doesn't say he's Edward V. Okay. He. He's not coming here and saying, hey, what, it's your boy, it's Edward V. I'm here to become the king. I'm the king.
Anthony Delaney
So what's he doing then? What?
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, who doesn't enjoy a light uprising?
Anthony Delaney
So it. It is. It is some form of a coup. Uprising, type situ. Well, an attempt at. At that. But. But he's not. So who says he's Edward V, then?
Eleanor Jaenega
Matt. Which, I mean, that's compelling.
Anthony Delaney
I'm compelled.
Eleanor Jaenega
Right.
Anthony Delaney
But. But at the time, is anyone saying it?
Eleanor Jaenega
No.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, what?
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, so it's like this is kind of like something that we're coming up with now. And so some historians now argue that he wouldn't have had the backing that he had were he not.
Anthony Delaney
He didn't have that.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly.
Anthony Delaney
But we don't have somebody at the time saying, your man there, that came in, that's actually Edward V. So he's not saying it himself. Nobody at the time is saying it this is something that historians. And I can see why. I can see what you're saying about
Eleanor Jaenega
it, because it's a fairly successful uprising.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. And he has the support. And who is this person? It is a nobody. But what's also interesting is that it's happening in 1487. So it's not a direct challenge to Richard at all.
Eleanor Jaenega
No, this is a challenge against the Tudors. So, yeah, I think that there is this big differentiation here between Perkin Warbeck, who's like, tis I, Richard. Right. And Lambert Simnel, where now we're thinking maybe there might have been something behind it just because he was able to generate a certain amount of action. But also, fundamentally, people don't like them. Tutors.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
So, you know, it's kind of, like, fun to poke at them.
Anthony Delaney
I still think, though. No, well, yeah, I still think that if Lambert Simnel, the second one had been Edward, that we would have something contemporary go. Even if it wasn't a way of explaining, like, written down to say, of course, yes, he's calling himself Lambert Simnel, but we all know in Gloucester that this is the actual Edward V or whatever. I mean, it's odd. It's odd that there's this random man showing up being like, uprising, let's go. Yeah, weird. But it doesn't necessarily spell the return of a missing king to me.
Eleanor Jaenega
And also, let us be so for real, of course there's some random uprisings. Who the hell is Henry vii? Seems like you could just have an uprising.
Anthony Delaney
We've had a whole generation of random uprisings prior to the 1480s. For the people, it's just another one.
Eleanor Jaenega
I'm like, oh, so you think that regular peasants can't have an uprising? Come on. I love peasant uprisings. Lunch was great, but this traffic is awful.
Anthony Delaney
Can we stop at a bathroom?
Eleanor Jaenega
Are you all right?
Paige Desorbo
And keep having stomach issues after evening, like diarrhea, gas and bloating, abdominal pain and sometimes oily stools.
Eleanor Jaenega
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Paige Desorbo
I'm asking my doctor about EPI and if Creon could help.
Matt Lewis
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Anthony Delaney
Isn't there something as well about the. The prince's mother sending his sisters to Richard?
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. And so, and so this is like a good question. It's like, why would she do that if she thought he'd killed her son?
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. This is, this is what I'm. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And this is. So this is. Feeds into the idea that they must have survived because she would never have sent. But I guess it's true. Two, two things can be true at the same time that she.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, the girls aren't going to. Let's be so for real. We are here in the 15th century. Girls can't inherit the throne.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. So we're. And actually what she's doing potentially is ensuring their safety by putting them into the center of power.
Eleanor Jaenega
Everybody, look at them. It's like, also, the worst has already happened. Right. Like, here's my daughters. They're over there. There. There isn't really the same threat to their lives. This isn't, you know, three monarchs later when we have Mary. Right. You know, this is. You don't really let women inherit the throne of England yet. Yet.
Anthony Delaney
So the danger is just not the same.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's just not the same. And is it weird? Yeah. But court's weird.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, of course. Makes no sense.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. It's like, I mean, that the whole thing is a nest of vipers. One way or another. The best that you can say about any king is that. That they're dead. Right. Like These are not nice people.
Anthony Delaney
It is psychotic.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. It's really dangerous.
Anthony Delaney
There's a psychosis in the idea of a court.
Eleanor Jaenega
The most dangerous place that you can ever be is at court.
Anthony Delaney
Yes, absolutely.
Eleanor Jaenega
So, you know.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. And so it would make sense even if she did think or know that. Again, that's. Actually, now that we're having this conversation, it's a very modern take to go say she even did suspect that Richard had some way played a part in killing her boys. It wouldn't be that weird for her to go, well, let's make sure that doesn't happen to the rest of the surviving part of the family and that we still have a place in this new reign. And so, girls, off you go. You're going to be our family representatives there now. And it also then adds legitimacy to Richard and it shows that there's this peacefulness that is between the families, et cetera, et cetera.
Eleanor Jaenega
Exactly. And more to the point, like, with this also, it's saying, I'm not a threat.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Like, I'm not going to blow up. I'm not. I'm not doing anything. Just please be nice to the girls. Can you get them some advantageous marriages?
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
Like, no. No threats over here.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
You know, so there's multiple ways you can read that.
Anthony Delaney
That's right. Final. This isn't really. Well, it is a theory, but it's. It's potentially some evidence, but it is a theory as well. There have been two sets of skeletons, am I correct? Two sets of skeletons found in or around the tower. Some people believe one or the other are the skeletons of the princes in the tower. Discuss.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. Okay. So the first set of skeletons we find come from 1647. They're rebuilding a staircase in the White Tower and they find a wooden chest 10ft underground. And it's got two skeletons of children, what are clearly. Clearly children. Okay, Right. Now come to understand, please, though, this is. This is something to understand. Like, yeah, that's maybe a bit weird. This is also happening during the reign of Charles ii. Right. So we have the restoration of the monarchy.
Anthony Delaney
We're back on the throne. Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
And he's very seriously hoping to be like, ooh, prestige, prestige. Like, isn't it important to have a king? Wouldn't we all agree? You need a tiny spaniel.
Anthony Delaney
You need a king do lovely black, long locks. Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
You need to have all of these things. Right. And so he. Too much, kind of like pomp and circumstance, says, these are the princes and they are interred at Westminster Abbey, which is the traditional resting place of many monarchs.
Anthony Delaney
I see.
Eleanor Jaenega
Right. So, you know, like, Lizzy Wan is in there, etc. Etc.
Anthony Delaney
So he gives them. So, okay, just. Let's recap on that. Just so I have the timeline correct. Did you say 16? They were discovered first in 1647. 47. So even before Charles II, the first is beheaded. In 49, they're discovered, but they kind of just mingle around there while the Republic and the Civil War is all happening.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, we had better things to do with these two. We were busy doing witch hunts. We were like. We were sliding castles.
Anthony Delaney
There was all sorts of things knocking Ireland to pieces. Listen, so, okay, lots going on, as you say. Then Charles II comes back. There is this restoration of the moniker. They are restored with no new hindrances on their powers. But we have started to see the push forward of Parliament in a new way, and the birth of. In some ways, modern party politics starts to emerge at this time. But in order to still shore up this idea of monarchy, you're saying that what he does is. Yes, those are the two boys. And now we're gonna infuse them with the regal dignity that they were denied in birth. And it gives me an excuse to have some pomp and circumstance again.
Eleanor Jaenega
And, oh, aren't I a nice guy? Like, I'm worried about, like, oh, these ancestors have, like, these sensitivities. Right. It's a nice little bit of propaganda. And it costs him nothing.
Anthony Delaney
Right.
Eleanor Jaenega
Like, for the price of a tomb, you can get all of this and
Anthony Delaney
you can say what you want, because in those days, you're not going to be looking for DNA. Nobody's going to be like. And it adds up narratively. It makes sense. We found the skeleton of two children down some stairs in the tower. Who else could it be?
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, Exactly. So in 1933, we took another squiz at the bones.
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
And we seem they're like, from around the correct age.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, they are.
Eleanor Jaenega
Or so. Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
So there has been testing done on the.
Eleanor Jaenega
On those 19. 1933 testing, you know what I'm saying? You know, so, like, somebody smelled them,
Anthony Delaney
and we're like, yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
And they're like, yeah, yeah. And we haven't done any DNA analysis
Anthony Delaney
on them on that set of bones. Nothing.
Eleanor Jaenega
No. So it's just kind of like, you know, vibes.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Right place, right time. Charles II said so, you know, whatever.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, yeah. Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Now here's the thing. We got another set of bones right.
Anthony Delaney
Now, I have been confused around this because, yes, there is another set of Bones. When are these found?
Eleanor Jaenega
These are found in 1789.
Anthony Delaney
Another revolutionary year. Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
And these are.
Anthony Delaney
God, is there just loads of bones of kids hanging around the Tower of London.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, these are not from the Tower of London.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, where are these?
Eleanor Jaenega
These are from St. George's Chapel in Windsor, which is where Lizzie, too, is buried.
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Radhi Deblookia
Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
Okay, so they're there. So they're saying they were transported where.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's like, that's kind of like. It's. It is one of, like, the familial resting spots, you know, that is the sort of place that you might go put some bones.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
You know, if you're feeling guilty.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yes. You know, if you're feeling bad, if they, you know. Yeah.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. So, like, that is. That's a place. That's a place. And these are found because, like, some workmen are doing a job and they accidentally break Edward Ivan tomb. And they're like, why are there two coffins of unidentified children in here?
Anthony Delaney
Oh, wait, they were in with their dad. Oh, okay. Didn't realize this.
Eleanor Jaenega
That's weird. Right?
Anthony Delaney
So there's two unidentified. I don't know if they would have been able to tell that they were boys at that particular moment in time.
Eleanor Jaenega
We got two little skeletons of kids in with Edward iv.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. That's weird.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's weird.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
A little bit weird.
Anthony Delaney
Strange. And what do we. Do we know anything about that? Was there a.
Eleanor Jaenega
The royal family don't want you to, like, think about it. They're like, please, could you just leave these skeletons alone? You're being weird. This.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, so there's note on those two particular ones.
Eleanor Jaenega
So, like, this is the point is, like, we're still kind of debating this. And the thing that is sort of like, keeping us from doing that is the modern royal family, I would argue correctly, is like, Jesus Christ, like, leave these royal remains alone. Yeah, Right. Like, for the sake of a mystery, could we just, like, not let these skeletons rest in peace? Right. And so that's where we're at. So maybe there are bodies.
Anthony Delaney
Charles, William, unlike Eleanor, I am willing to. To be part of this testing process because I'm a nosy, nosy person.
Eleanor Jaenega
Anthony's like, do it for the plot.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah. I'm like, okay, I get the ethics, and I really do. And I get it. You are right. I will admit defeat. I will also admit an insatiable curiosity around trying to know something. But no, I get what you're saying. And as I say, you are right. You are on the right side of this. That's compelling to me.
Eleanor Jaenega
Oh. It compels me, though.
Anthony Delaney
I was a little bit compelled when you're talking about the two that were found in the tower, but now I'm more.
Eleanor Jaenega
I'm more compelled by those ones. Are you the ones in the tower? Because the tower, it's like all sorts of people were looking living there.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
For hundreds upon hundreds of years.
Anthony Delaney
And loads of people were killed there.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah. And it's like. It's weirder. Like. Like, who are these kids buried in with their dad? It's odd.
Anthony Delaney
I think I know the answer to this now. I think I've solved it.
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, okay, so do you want to hear my take?
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay. Look, I don't exactly know, but one thing I do know is them kids dead.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay. And part of what makes me say that this, at the very least, is even the version of this where we accept that Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel are the princes.
Anthony Delaney
Sure.
Eleanor Jaenega
Involves the boys being smuggled out of the tower in the middle of the night by well wishers.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Okay, here's my thing. When I babysit my nieces and nephews,
Anthony Delaney
you tried to escape with them.
Eleanor Jaenega
No one is like, damn, we better get those kids away from Eleanor right now, because I fear for their lives. Why? Like, if everything is just, like, completely copacetic and, like, completely above board in the Tower of London right now, why are we smuggling kids out of there, homie? Like, why do. Why do we even need to think. To do that? Yeah, if everything's fine.
Anthony Delaney
Oh, that's a good point.
Eleanor Jaenega
This is a key piece of evidence. Like, okay.
Anthony Delaney
And very almost basic. Yeah, in a good way. I mean, no one.
Eleanor Jaenega
But, like, no one talks about that. It's like, so, you know.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
So like, smuggling them from what if everything is fine. Yeah, if everything is fine and these kids grew up to be, you know, like, leaders of varying rebellions, etc. Etc. Why are we smuggling? Like, you would just be like, okay, yeah, there they are. And also, like, to Matt's point about, like, what would the kings of Europe have to gain from this? Well, in the first place, they're the kings of Europe. They are the kings of. Of England. They're like kings of England.
Anthony Delaney
That's. Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Oh, yeah, that's a king. Like, they pick a new king every five minutes over there. Like, they're like, he's not talking about me. Yeah, right. Like, and then also a big bunch of the people who are kind of supporting the pretenders. So, for example, Perkin Warbeck, he has support from The Dukes of Burgundy, the Duchess's aunt. And the Dutch is like, oh, yeah, for real. That's my nephew. She hasn't seen him since he was like, three.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
You know, and she's also like, the richest woman in Europe. And people don't like the time Tutors. Yeah, they don't like the tutors. So it's kind of like. Yeah, like, it's like, I got money for that. Like, go annoy the tutors. Like, that'll be. This is gonna be funny. Like, see what they do. Right. It's just rich people stuff. It's like rich people sports stuff.
Anthony Delaney
Sure, sure.
Eleanor Jaenega
She's not a queen.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
It actually doesn't call anything into question,
Anthony Delaney
but equally, she, she, maybe she sees. Look, I'm total conjecture on my part, but like you say, she's not a queen and she's not. And so she's like, yeah, I got the money to do this, but I wonder if she's like, well, if we can put them, put that guy on the throne, then, but then if we get some actually legit rich blood in there, we can, we can get.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, like, then they're beholden to you and that's all.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, quite fine.
Eleanor Jaenega
I don't know who killed these kids or if they simply died. I think that also, like, one way I would think about it is perhaps they simply died of neglect.
Anthony Delaney
That they just didn't survive the tower.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, they just didn't survive the tower. Maybe they just weren't treated particularly well. This is a common way, way that royal people die when they are under custody. Oh, right. Often times they're not out and out murdered. They just die. Happens. They just die because they're just not being treated very well. These are young kids in an incredibly stressful situation. Their father has just died. Apparently they're going around saying they're in fear for their life. It's the bloody 15th century. If they get a bad cold, they're just going to fall over and die.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
I actually just think they're not treated particularly well.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
That's kind of like my personal pet one. I don't know that anyone went in there and smothered anyone, but I think those kids are dead.
Anthony Delaney
I'm gonna agree with you. I'm so sorry, Matt. And Matt, you're so now you only need to. Now you only need to buy 50 copies of Queer Georgians. I, I, I agree with you. And you know what has. There are two children, Children in a tomb with Edward iv. I think that's what it has to come down to. And one of the reasons why I'm buying into your theory there of whether. Whether or not they were killed per se, as opposed to just died would make sense in that their bodies were somewhat honored by placing them in the tomb with their father. And even if they were killed, it's still an honoring of their status, their position, but still going, yeah, I see what you could have been. But I'm gonna say they were murdered. I am. That has to be them, doesn't it? I mean, I don't know.
Eleanor Jaenega
It seems compelling, right? To me, it seems compelling. And, like, listen, I want to be clear. I'm not one of these people who is like. And Richard III is a really horrible man, bad man. Like, let's do all of that. And this is more particularly because I think that all kings are bad. Acap. With a K. I think that fundamentally the position of royalty is a violent one.
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
That is. That is a result of a monopoly on violence. And all kings are terrible people.
Anthony Delaney
Yes.
Eleanor Jaenega
All kings murder dozens, scores of people, Whether it's in warfare or that guy stole a sheep or, you know, what have you. I don't find. Find the prince is more compelling than any of those ordinary people that we will never hear from.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
So even were these kids killed, I don't think that makes him necessarily a worse king than anybody else. You know, there are terrible monarchs all over Europe who are doing absolutely abysmal things constantly, and we don't bring it up. And it is, as Matt pointed out, a result of this ridiculous kind of Tudor and Victorian sentimentality that we dwell on this story. The way we. In many ways, I feel about Richard iii, the same way that I feel about King Stephen. He got there first.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, sure, sure. That's the name of the game. Exactly. Didn't make it to the. To the altar. Didn't get the sacrificial or not. Didn't get the consecrational oils or whatever. So it's.
Eleanor Jaenega
It's.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, I see. It's. It's a way to be king.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yep.
Anthony Delaney
It's a legitimate way to be king. What he does. What, Richard iii. Well. Or if he does. If he does. Yeah, sure. Exact.
Eleanor Jaenega
I don't know. Like, I think the only way we're really gonna get closure on this would be if we do DNA analysis on either of these skeletons and it comes up conclusively to be. Then Otherwise, there isn't a way to solve this. And I also think that, like, as historians, we have to become comfortable with that. You know, we don't get to have
Anthony Delaney
an answer to everything. No, we have to meet these stories and histories where they are. They don't need to work for us. Still, though, Charles and William, if you want to listen, send me a WhatsApp. I'm not medievalist.
Eleanor Jaenega
Sound off in the comments. Can we come over? I just want to talk.
Anthony Delaney
I feel like Catherine and I will get on now. Listen, I think do away with the monarchy. I don't understand it. I'm Irish, obviously, and I do think it's a form of psychosis that monarchy is. That said, I do feel like I get on with Catherine. She has lovely gowns.
Eleanor Jaenega
She has really nice gowns, doesn't she?
Anthony Delaney
I bet you she's good crack. And I know she might not seem in the work, but I bet you she's good crack and I feel like I could bring the crack out on her a little bit more. Based on nothing.
Eleanor Jaenega
Come down pub.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, exactly. That's what I mean. And like, just let, like, let's sack them all off and we won't go there. We'll go over to the west of Ireland for a while, just, you know, we don't need to. We don't need to bring all the entourage and everything. I mean, you probably do for your safety, but you'll be grand. It just. I don't know. I don't know. It's. But nonetheless, they remain a compelling institution. Here we are, 2026, and they are headline news still, in the same way that this is happening in the 15th century. And so, you know, we're having a lot of convers and the second book feeds into this, but we have a lot of conversations right now about the survival of the monarchy. I see no clues. Despite any personal republican leanings that I might have. I see no clues right now on this day, the 27th of February, that we're recording this 2026, that the institution of monarchy is in any real danger. I think we are on the verge of seeing what will look on the surface of it like radical reform in the next generation. But there will be a king after Charles. William will be king unless something, you know, totally unforeseen or catastrophic happens. I don't see it going anywhere.
Eleanor Jaenega
I don't think that, like, any of the current princes are getting knocked off.
Anthony Delaney
No, no. And if they do, you know where it comes. Right, that's all solved, that one. Then people can stop talking about this now.
Eleanor Jaenega
Listen, you know, we're fine, we're done.
Anthony Delaney
Do you wish they would, as a medievalist or you a Bit like, oh, I'm done with that one.
Eleanor Jaenega
Well, I guess my thing about it is I don't get it because again, I don't care about kings.
Anthony Delaney
Okay.
Eleanor Jaenega
I like regular people. I think Lambert Simol is more interesting if he isn't a prince.
Anthony Delaney
Sure, sure. Well, A.B. i mean that is insane.
Eleanor Jaenega
That's my take.
Anthony Delaney
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Eleanor Jaenega
Like, I mean I'm, I'm much more interested in everyday people. Again, a cab with a K. All kings are bastards. I don't want to know about them or care about them and I don't feel the need to, to stick up for them because they don't need anyone to stick up for them. They're fine. They're fine.
Anthony Delaney
They're absolutely okay. Right on that. We will leave you to it. Thank you for joining us for this world changing discussion. The Medieval Field.
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, welcome.
Anthony Delaney
The Medieval field is now our piece that this mystery has been solved. Those boys are in that tomb with their dad. If you've enjoyed this episode you can go and actually watch the conversation on YouTube. We have our YouTube channel. Go over there can come and see me on my social media channel. Anthony Delaneyhistory Eleanor, where can they find you?
Eleanor Jaenega
Dr. Eleanor Jaenega so you can hang
Anthony Delaney
out with us there. Leave us a five star review wherever you get your podcasts on both Gone Medieval and After Dark because it helps people find us and discover us and hear more problem solving escapades that we take part in. Write to us@afterdarkstoryhit.com particularly. Do you guys do this Gone Medieval in case?
Eleanor Jaenega
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. You can, you can get us at gone medieval@historyhit.com I see a pattern. Crazy, isn't it?
Anthony Delaney
It's like we work for the same production company. If you have any subjects topics that you would like us to cover then you can get in touch on either one of those there and we will have our producers go through them. They look at them and we, we talk about them as well. So they, they may well make it to air. I will let you go. Thank you. Have a good day. Have a good night. Enjoy your workout, enjoy your day at work, whatever it is you're doing. We'll see you again soon.
Radhi Deblookia
Foreign.
Anthony Delaney
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AFTER DARK: MYTHS, MISDEEDS & THE PARANORMAL
Episode Title: Were the Princes in the Tower murdered?
Host: Anthony Delaney
Co-Host: Eleanor Janega
Guests: Matt Lewis (voice note segment), references to researcher Phoebe
Date: March 19, 2026
This episode dives deep into one of history’s most chilling mysteries: the fate of Edward V and his brother Richard of York, popularly remembered as “the Princes in the Tower.” Anthony and Eleanor embark on a lively, irreverent, and historically grounded tour through the theories, propaganda, and the real, tragic context of these vanished heirs. Was it murder? Misadventure? A successful escape? Or a case of Tudor propaganda outshining the truth?
[02:03–04:45]
[06:00–13:07]
[15:06–16:24]
[26:33–35:27]
[35:46–39:26]
Alternative suspects:
“This is a very new theory. It’s kind of fun... like, women can murder princes too. The girl bossification of history.” – Eleanor [37:15]
[39:57–46:22]
Matt Lewis vocalizes his support for this version (voice note [40:14–42:14]). He argues the boys may have survived and later returned as “Lambert Simnel” and “Perkin Warbeck,” pretending to be royalty in uprisings against the Tudors.
Eleanor and Anthony critically evaluate:
[52:06–56:56]
Set 1: Tower of London (found 1647, reviewed 1933)
Set 2: St. George’s Chapel, Windsor (found 1789)
“For the price of a tomb, you can get all of this... it adds up narratively. It makes sense. We found the skeleton of two children down some stairs in the tower. Who else could it be?” – Anthony [54:34]
Both hosts eventually find the Windsor skeletons more compelling: “It’s weirder. Like, who are these kids buried in with their dad? It’s odd.” – Eleanor [58:08]
[49:19–51:38]
[58:19–64:49]
For further reading and listening:
Contact & Social:
5-star reviews and listener mail encouraged.