Search for King Richard III - Press Conference 12 September 2012

www.le.ac.uk
This press conference, announcing the discovery of human remains in the search for Richard III, was held in Leicester Guildhall on 12 September 2012.
The panel consisted of Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester City Mayor), Philippa Langley (Richard III Society) and, from the University of Leicester, Richard Taylor (Director of Corporate Affairs), Richard Buckley (University of Leicester Archaeological Services), Professor Lin Foxhall (School of Archaeology and Ancient History), Dr Turi King (Department of Genetics) and Dr Jo Appleby (School of Archaeology and Ancient History).
For more information on the dig go to: www2.le.ac.uk/n...
For more information on studying Archaeology at The University of Leicester go to:
www2.le.ac.uk/d...

[@katiefish310]

AFTER watching "The lost King", now I know it'S Philippa Langley who find the King.

[@MsBirchify]

Me too and calling her 10 year research for a enthusiastic what? Fixed idea? Hunch? This example of overriding women should be on the front of their university.

[@mrmonkeymia]

It was Philippa Langley who found Richard III; the University's involvement was just ancillary. This video record reaffirms everything the movie (The Lost King) portrayed about the disgusting behaviour of Leicester University, and Richard Taylor in particular. Here he can be seen (desperately greedy for control and credit) shouldering past Philippa's rights to lead the press conference front and centre of screen. Philippa is relegated to the very far end of the table, mostly out of shot; the uni ever so conveniently silent on the fact that this was HER project and HER find. Leicester's heavy branding and posters overwhelm and dominate everywhere; what a grotesque display given the circumstances! On one of the rare occasions that Philippa actually gets to talk, explaining the reasons that triggered HER search, Richard Taylor quickly shoots her down suggesting this was not actually the reason for the search, despite this project being one that SHE solely initiated, researched, lobbied, funded, and lead. It is clear (just from this press conference alone) that the university went to extreme lengths to dominate and take primary credit for Richard III's discovery. Phillipa is shown as a mere footnote, a mere member of a side society rather than the driving force and lead on this project. Without Philippa's hard work and effort to initiate, research, lobby, and fund for this dig to happen, Richard III would still be under that carpark. I call upon Leicester University to correct this false narrative that they've been spinning for 10 years; apologise, and give Philippa her due credit.

[@hobhood7118]

Absolutely disagree with you. Langley is on the table, she does get to speak around 30 minutes in, and she is still spouting the 'Good King Richard' nonsense, which is why the academics take the stance they do. Her points are rebutted immediately - but not rudely - by the academics. She then carries on on the same tack. I can see why the academics were embarrassed by her being there. She appears to have an emotional connection with what she takes to be the 'real' Richard which is the antithesis of the approach taken by any sound academic. It is the 'conspiracy theory / we don't trust experts ' attitude which is so problematic today. Only one step away from being an anti-vaxer.

[@georgewhitehead8185]

@@hobhood7118 Hobhood, you are totally wrong. Philippa Langley was the ONLY person who had the idea, and the dream, to find King Richard III. She was there in the first trench, on the first day, and within the first four hours she found the left leg bones, and then the right leg bones of King Richard III. Without Philippa Langley there would NEVER have been any discovery of any kind, and there would have never been all of these publicity greedy people for their "johnny come lately" "help" sitting at this table doing any kind of presentation. All of Leicester and the entire world should be forever grateful for Philippa Langley, as she is the one who actually found King Richard III. Doctor George Whitehead

[@simenonhonore]

​@@hobhood7118 I feel you are being unfair to Philippa Langley. She is not an academic and does not pretend to be, rather coming from an explicitly revisionist view of Richard III. Her ideas are perfectly reasonable and historically defensible and to smear her with "conspiracy theory / we don't trust experts attitude" and "Only one step away from being an anti-vaxer (sic)" is intellectually and morally disreputable. Equally the University of Leicester team, who are coming from their own academic perspective, are not going to endorse her partisan views. It would have be more gracious of them to acknowledge that the entire dig was her initiative and none of this would have happened without her starting the ball rolling.

[@Bosscat86]

There is now a row between the Registrar. Richard Taylor, and the makers of the movie The Lost King. From watching this, particularly Taylor's interjection at 33:25, when Philippa Langley was speaking, I can't take to him. She discovered the site and kicked the project off. The university, has plasterered its name and logo on almost everything in the room. Taylor dominates, as if he was the lead archaelogist.

[@jakshar]

I would vote for York Minister too, I understand Leceister point of view but they have had him 500 years and he deserves the best and I do feel he should be up north. I want to congratulate the team, what a wonderful result

[@unklscrufy]

Is there any reason they wouldn't give a former monarch a full state funeral? And he might have been buried in Leicester for 500 years, but that wouldn't have been his preference. He should either be laid to rest with his wife in Westminster Abbey or in York Minster. They might even consider moving his wife to York Minster, too.

[@lb40713]

May the king live forever!!!

[@christopher3386]

But he's dead.

[@wewhofly]

I listen to good slices of this and in that bit towards the end about character and 'we are not advocates for Richard III', I see concern for the reputation not of a long dead King, but for the reputation of a long dead Playwright. I think the nerves seem more directed at Literary history, particularly the Godlike status of Mr Shakespeare, than political rivalry between Plantagenet and Tudor fans. Of course Shakespeare was just a playwright, not an historian; even so, I think there seemed to be nerves that a new version of Richard III might belittle the reputation of some iconic Shakespearean plays. Mr Taylor seemed fearful of his English Lit department! ;)

[@annwaine2881]

Fantastic news that it has now been verified that the remains that have been found are in fact, Richard III.

[@giselleamor8779]

cam here from the movie

[@questionmark9819]

The university's search??? OK then 👍

[@derekgillan7314]

Something out of a Dan Brown novel, fiction is the truth.

[@deborahgrant1131]

I don't think he can be left under the parking lot. He's been disturbed so it's inevitable he be reinterred. Personally, I would vote for York Minster.

[@deblyons824]

its a money spinner , thats all , the fact is universty has so much plastic paper waste everyday it is a disgrace , education dont think so .

[@DianaRubinoAuthor]

My British husband is the only person on the planet who's against this--he says Richard should be left alone; he was given a Christian burial after the battle and the dead shouldn't be disturbed. Anyone else agree?