Richard III: Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case | Dr Turi King | TEDxLeicester

Richard III: Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case | Dr Turi King | TEDxLeicester
Turi King is a British-Canadian geneticist. She read Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge going on a win a scholarship to study for a molecular genetics MSc at the University of Leicester, graduating with Distinction. She went on to carry out her award-winning PhD on the link between British surnames and genetics on a Wellcome Trust Prize Studentship.
She is now a Reader in Genetics and Archeaology. All of Turi’s research combines genetics with archaeology, history, geography and forensics. She is perhaps best known for leading the genetic analysis in the King Richard III case and for her public engagement in science work.
She has recently been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the British Science Association alongside Brian Cox, Alice Roberts and David Attenborough.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@jmac5951]

Terrific. Glad Richard was found. Wonder how many wars we'd be in, if the leaders who declared them had to actually fight, like Richard did?

[@lisakaz35]

I'd say zero.

[@lordatreus3]

Do you realize how many more wars occurred in the medieval age than the ones we have now?! 😂

[@giuseppemaldanado7688]

Of course, Richard started the war that killed him...

[@r.c.miller6161]

He was dead at 32.

[@susanmccormick6022]

Jmac:Excellent comment.

[@user-kt3zv1cm5j]

There's something surprisingly humanising about refering to Richard's body as 'him', rather than an 'it' or 'the body'; I really like that touch. Sometimes it can be hard to really grasp the reality of historical figures and events, you know? To wrap your mind around it all as more than stories or concepts. And it's funny the things that allow me a brief sensation of real, true understanding, of seeing that skeleton as a real man, and not just bones.

[@loril1394]

This is so interesting.....Dr. King is awesome and I love listening to her explain it. She does a great job and I am glad King Richard 111 can rest in peace at last.

[@lazspk]

What a great presentation/presenter.

[@richardevppro3980]

Ive seen loads of her shows and she is an amazing person and love her way of explaining :)

[@stuartwilliams4898]

Yes, and she's a riveting and entertaining talker.

[@33Donner77]

Amazing - from locating the burial site to the genetic research.

[@carolempluckrose4188]

Right, silliness aside. This was an amazing journey from Richard dying in battle to burial as a Regnant King in an English Cathedral. Thank you all for your hard work in finally finding and identifying Richard. It's a tale to be told down future generations.

[@peachesontheroad5311]

This online presentation is well made! I like the way Turi King speakes with so much enthusiasm and excitement for her job and for the Journey they went through to identify Richard. she must have true passion for this dicovery and also for telling the people about it. I didn´t expect that i would have that much fun listening to this talk. Really good

[@MsVikingPrincess]

One of my favorite TED talks. Thanks!

[@davidyoung5114]

She should also have mentioned that Mr. Ibsen crafted the coffin that Richard III's remains were re-interred in under Leicester Cathedral.

[@lisakaz35]

She says this in her UBC lecture. She called it beautiful. I have read posters disputing that but I think they expected elaborate work when he made an understated English oak coffin.

[@fizzao1342]

She’s very amusing as well as informative. I loved it when Philippa Langley said about the skull reconstruction on a show “He doesn’t look like a murderer”. No, neither did Peter Sutcliffe.

[@slytheringingerwitch]

Not many murderers do, do they?

[@Hannahk00]

Neither did Ted Bundy😂 (no hate on Richard, just saying that just because someone looks nice doesn’t mean they are)

[@tukicat1399]

Pretty well all nobles and cohorts were murderers, he did no more or less than kings before and after him. Many documentaries absolve him of the tower murders.. lackeys most likely.

[@sorscha1308]

Yeah, that was a bit odd. He may not have murdered the princes (there were plenty of other candidates with motive & opportunity) but he killed several blokes in battle the dayhe died and was certainly known as a bit of a warrior from way back. He'd been on a horse killing people in battle from the time he was old enough to take part with his older brother and his dad (before HE was killed in battle).

[@susanmccormick6022]

Fizza O: Do not compare Richard to crets like Sutcliffe!

[@Amethyst_Dragon_]

Absolutely brilliant. not just at her job but as a public speaker...thank you for posting..

[@richard66754]

Love this woman! She’s on top of her game.😎

[@beameup64]

There is a video which shows a replica of the armor that Richard wore. A subject with precisely the same deformities was used to create the armor (complicated procedure). He was able to ride a horse and use a jousting pole.

[@havingalook2]

Isn't she lovely. Such a wonderful presenter and brilliant mind. Well done.

[@nneichan9353]

Informative and enjoyable. Thanks.

[@craigalden54]

Utterly fascinating. What a marvelous archaeological success.

[@trajancanada]

Really interesting talk. I also like Dr. King's accent, Canadian mixed with a British twang. Unique. Good stuff, cheers.

[@vima8680]

very interesting, yes, but she talks too fast for a public speaker.

[@kaymuldoon3575]

Trajan Canuck at first I thought she was Irish. lol

[@kaymuldoon3575]

In part because she talks so fast. A lot of Irish people talk fast.

[@ArachnerdGC]

@@kaymuldoon3575 I'm an American with a midwestern accent. I've been living in the British Isles for 33 years and people often think I have a (southern) Irish accent. And anytime I speak to an American, they say I sound English. I don't suppose that really means much though as Americans can't usually tell any British accents apart - or Aussie, Kiwi or South African for that matter!

[@bonniesnyder9576]

Fantastic, thank you from a Richard III fan!

[@Atelier19a]

So interesting and amusing! Such a great speaker.

[@chilled1977]

Just wish the talk was longer....very interesting.

[@Lea-ug6dx]

(SUE, comment by Lea E.) It was a pleasure to listen to this presentation! Having dealt with Richard III in Shakespeare’s play, it is hard to realize the fact that all of this took place in the real world and that Richard was an actual person. The way Tori King presents the evidence found during the excavation makes it very fun to listen to, especially with her sense of humor and her visuals she never fails to make herself understood and invite the audience in on her journey to find Richard III.

[@2Sugarbears]

Well done.

[@margi9103]

I’m glad she acknowledged Philippa Langley. She raised over £35,000 from members of the Richard III Societies from around the world for the archeological dig when other funding sources fell through.

[@RandFan09]

WOW! so cool, something so magical about seeing that matching DNA!

[@mth06834]

LOL! "She started badgering us a little bit!" 2:12 - best line ever, haha!

[@renshiwu305]

Notice how the given names in the family trees repeat themselves. Michael Ibsen's foremothers were named "Barbara" and "Charlotte" with regularity. Wendy Duldig's foremothers were mostly "Everhilda" and "Frances." We seem to be moving away from the practice of naming children after our forebears, which is a great shame.

[@lisakaz35]

Her hour long version for UBC is up. It's great, fyi. You'll recognize some but get more jokes and detail.

[@Lottie-Dawe]

Awesome!! Can you post the link?

[@flyinggreenpeace]

Intertaining 🎉

[@wandaalexander1972]

According to CRI Genetics "famous relatives" dna test, I am related to Richard III. I notice the surname Grantham in the list of names under Duldig. That was my mother's maiden name. Some of my relatives share the scoliosis spinal defect. We are in the USA.

[@72CrossingRS]

The scholiosis goes much further back than King Richard lll as you probably know by now.

[@chazfatur1929]

Thank you TedX & Dr Kuri King for unearthing my relative and giving him the proper burial he justly deserves. I am related to Richard III & Edward IV. DNA testing proves it, it's an honor to be related to royalty. Wish I could have attended this seminar.

[@willandrews9741]

Marki Faux why do you both call him Richard one hundred and eleven?

[@j.a.stafford1617]

Turi King neither unearthed Richard nor had anything to do with his reburial. Philippa Langley drove the search. John Ashdown-Hill had already determined the DNA profile of Michael Ibsen’s mother years before. Please see “The Lost King.” If you live in the US, it will be released in March.

[@kingrichardlv2929]

How do I email you

[@WellsyBRNC]

I’m related to Richard III according to my DNA Haplogroup J1c3 according to 23 & me. Love hearing about my ancestor! Is there somewhere I can get a list of relatives? 👑 👑👑

[@bonnieabrs1003]

Pamela Wells google it! It’s extensive & very interesting. If you’re interested in a fictionalization of these kings Phillipa Gregory

[@bonnieabrs1003]

Sorry, wrong button. Ms. Gregory has a series of historically based fictional books on the War of the Roses families. It’s on STARZ as well. The Rivers, the White Queen, the Red Queen, the White Princess, the King Makers daughter ( who was the aunt of Richard) & others. Even though it’s fiction, it’s backed by history. It lets you understand the rapidly changing dynamics of kingship. I always loved the story of John of Ghent & Katheryn Swynford & the heirs of their children who were declared legitimate by the Pope. Happy hunting!

[@lanamichaels5399]

Hi me too I’m J1C 1b1a also told this from me and 23 👑😊

[@lanamichaels5399]

Me too pamela

[@alexadelroy5522]

Actually, Philippa Langley, Dr. John Ashdown Hil, and the Richard III Society were the founders and funders of this dig, which would never have happened without their years-long persistence. The academics are quick to take credit.

[@Rev_Oir]

Wonderful. With just 1% of the money needed to dig up the 14% (?) of the area they could access, they struck Plantagenet on the first hole. Wonder if they could have used Robert Plant's DNA (I'm told he's a Plantagenet, name shortened since Richard III's time.) Considering his severe spinal curvature, Richard would have been quite tall, (for the era) had he been able to stand straight. This would have made him strong as a tall man, with a small man's stature. This would have led oponents to underestimate him in battle. He must have fought like a demon.

[@xyomods2941]

I am related to Richard on my mother and fathers side according to DNA test done...who should i contact

[@Suzannahartist]

Dr Turi King is fabulous, funny insightful but one thing I would definitely have to tease her about is king Richard was found by the R in the car park.... Being a scientist she wants to distance herself from that but it's the truth caught on film.

[@lukeandreitolentino6634]

had to play this on 0.75x speed

[@sancal5939]

Thanks

[@yunjiehong4649]

18:58 keep the promise haha

[@catherinewilkins2760]

Brilliant

[@deblyons824]

got you ,

[@mattybond]

🎶 whoooooo are you... who who who who 🦉

[@cherijoe]

Richard III had thanked you in your dream, hadn't he? :)

[@freedomfaction100]

Time to find Richard's nephews; the real king & his brother.

[@kawippel8256]

They claim they are buried in Westminster Abbey. No one has done DNA testing on them though.

[@elizabethcarpenter4313]

I believe I read that that were discovered in the18th or 19th century buried at the bottom of a staircase in the White tower. I need to check my resource but I do know that there has not been a DNA study done on them.

[@aramis5301]

Two skeletons have been found buried in the Tower, but so far authorization has not been given to do DNA testing on them. Which is a pity, because now that we have Richard's DNA, it would be possible to know whether the two boys they found were really his nephews.

[@JoHarris68]

The problem is that Edward IV was supposedly fathered by an Archer, Richard Duke of York was away when Edward was conceived. So Edward may not have the same Y DNA as RIII, you would need Edwards DNA or the DNA of a female in Elizabeth Woodville's line. Only with that could you say that the boys found in the tower are the Princes.

[@bonnieabrs1003]

Troll finder or DNA from Cicely Neville mother of Edward, George, & Richard. George was her middle child & favorite & thought to be the archers son. Elizabeth Woodville’s DNA provide only help if the skeletons are found.

[@docastrov9013]

If "we are all related to Richard III" how come there were "no hits on any database"?

[@keefebaby]

Well done Sir Rhys ap Thomas :-)

[@antoniograncino3506]

He's in the choir of Grey Friars ? Funny, I sing in the Choir of Grey Friars and never noticed him.

[@olesuhr727]

It wouldn't have killed him, but it would have made him feel rather woozy ... 😏 ... sounds about right!

[@ajith3436]

May be most of England share a same mother many generations before and they have the same m-DNA? ; Q- Were random non-related English peasants in that same area of his birth tested for same m-DNA(i guess there would be a lot of matches)?

[@docastrov9013]

Another video says 1.5% of modern English people have that mDNA so hardly conclusive.

[@carolempluckrose4188]

Now, I'm adopted with no family historical or genetic background. I wonder ..............!😉

[@verybluepie]

A distant cousin, via mtDNA

[@NostalgiNorden]

SLOW DOWN!

[@TimD.Morand]

Wake up!

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

play it at 0.75 speed!!111!!!!!

[@gwendys3332]

I talk fast when I’m nervous too

[@PredatorianStyl]

Why is the audience laughing all the time? This is really annoying.

[@thatswhatisaid8908]

Because she keeps saying things which are funny.

[@nenabunena]

the injuries on the head is bec she damaged the skull. the skull injuries from the battle was from below the skull and wouldn't be noticeable unless she picked it up and looked under the skull

[@SkyForceOne2]

???

[@DudeslyGames]

Yep

[@gumpy4960]

All the marks on the skull where battle injuries

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

Wow, again a youtube commenter knows more than all the experts. What is the Baynesian analysis on that? = impossible

[@j.a.stafford1617]

@nenabunena, it was Jo Appleby who damaged the top of his skull...by using a pickaxe in the trench. Who does that?

[@spankyharland9845]

good job, now go find Jimmy Hoffa......

[@cipher7548]

Turi King taking/asuming/insinuating the credit. " Solving a 500 Year Old Cold Case". She didn't "solve" anything, simply DNA identified the body. When she says "we" "put the trench in" etc., etc. hmmm.

[@h.calvert3165]

Stop showing her! That explains, or teaches us, nothing! Show more than mere glimpses of the illustrations & photographs with which she is explaining her talk to her audience. 🙄

[@quefares]

listen to her.

[@h.calvert3165]

@@quefares I did! But when someone is showing me something to be read, as part of their presentation, I want to read it! Just as if I was in the audience. 👁️ 👁️

[@martinjones12]

Richard has no living descendants???

[@annpardue4669]

Richard 3rd had no living legitimate descendants as candidates to inherit the English throne. Henry Vll's army having killed Richard 3rd at the Battle of Bosworth Field did not claim to inherit the throne of England, but, claimed it by right of conquest. But, to make sure that he would not be challenged by any remaining Yorkists, he married Richard 3rd's oldest sister, Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth l designated James VI of Scotland as her heir to the throne and through him all subsequent English monarchs down to Elizabeth II have been descended from Elizabeth of York from the House of York. Ironic!

[@sarasaxena1949]

Richard III had one legitimate son, Edward, Prince of Wales who predecease d him and he had two illegitimate children, John and Katherine. John was possibly executed before 1500 and Katherine died before the coronation of her cousin, Elizabeth of York. Both of them left no descendents Another man, Richard Plantaganet, an apprentice to a brick layer, claimed to be Richard's illegitimate son. However his claim was never verified and if it counts, he didn't have any kids either. So, yes Richard has no living descendents.

[@maryjorgensen4756]

@@annpardue4669 Elizabeth of York was Richard's niece, not his sister.

[@robbiecrossing9447]

She's "actually"painful

[@johnrandolph6121]

Interesting... but the attempts humor were painful.

[@Known-unknowns]

Excuse me ? Yes she was very knowledgeable and yes I enjoyed the talk. However, she needs to slow down and not just walk off saying "There you go!”

[@kiltlvr]

Bruce Austen, my husband said the same, but I had to remind him that a TED talk only allows the speaker a few minutes in which to present, and in this case, there was so much information to be presented that our speaker was, literally, racing against the clock.

[@musikalischerelf9353]

Schmutz

[@francesbernard2445]

Dr. Turi King seems like a woman bright enough who could figure out how to convince a camel that he needs to get vaccinated after she helped to invent a better vaccine too. Poor guy. Was Richard the III only just the kind of fellow who maybe only wasn't as good at showing up for all of his classes on time in a university to get out of conscription into the military or what? I wonder after the death of Richard the III how his former place which in contrast he was allowed to frequent was stewarded after he died? Guess I will have to visit the place where his remains are resting now to find out more about that too. Instead of only assuming that whatever organization built on top of his remains was solely responsible for his murder too.

[@user-yk9jm2xx7s]

Imagine Benedict Cumberbatch is a King 😁Sherlock Holmes on the Throne 😂

[@r.c.miller6161]

Hard to follow. Why talk so fast? What exactly did she even say? I see in the comments that the paternity DNA was not a match!

[@StudeSteve62]

Nor did they expect it would, because of the "medieval hanky panky" mentioned. Not really important with all the other matching factors. To believe the skeleton is someone other than Richard requires much more faith in happenstance than accepting that it is...

[@72CrossingRS]

Nothing new under the sun. I'd say they all should be tested prior to coronation. Just saying... So many strict rules about illegitimate children (whom didn't ask to be conceived) blood is blood,,, all these regulations based on religious rules when the very rules of marriage Biblicly state hanky panky outside of wedlock annuls the marriage in the creators eyes... It should be no different, removed from thrown given a good flogging "Next in line." Genetic sample, (great) lets proceed to coronation! 🤣🙌

[@coltonbensin7046]

The sable insect jointly worry because oval peroperatively suit out a kaput support. romantic, plain signature

[@StudeSteve62]

The madrigore of verjuice must be talthibianised!

[@jeansindhikara1823]

Sad that such interesting information was presented by such a poor public speaker. Her “chatterbox “ style of speaking made it impossible to follow her story.

[@KWMc1952]

She should have shown the male DNA chart also. That's suspicious.

[@lisakaz35]

She sorta did. It didn't match. Others have spoken. There is a false paternity. Could be before RIII but more likely, just by probability, it's on the Somerset side, perhaps 18th or 19th century when it was more possible.

[@StudeSteve62]

Not particularly, the randy will be randy...😁 The other factors, especially the mitochondrial evidence, is persuasive. Harder by far to argue against this being Richard ..

[@utuberhoda]

Public speaking advice:: speak much more slowly than this speaker.

[@martinjones12]

I can do a DNA anywhere I like ????? not scientific!!!!!

[@mr.vizard4015]

Anyone else extremely annoyed by her pronouncing of the word "skeletal"?

[@StudeSteve62]

That's a common alternative pronunciation, so no...

[@mr.vizard4015]

@@StudeSteve62 Ok dude

[@deblyons824]

tell some one that cares

[@trishalynnada1240]

All the Egyptians Greeks moors Vikings samurai India gods come from Guam. Chamorro WOMEN

[@masayumoufasa7034]

fake