The Lost King

The Lost King tells the true story of Philippa Langley, an amateur historian and writer from Northumberland, who becomes obsessed with the idea of finding the lost remains of King Richard III of England. Her passion for the historical figure was sparked by a childhood fascination with the infamous king, who was the last English monarch of the House of York. For Langley, finding Richard III was not just a matter of uncovering a historical relic, but a deeply personal quest that allowed her to confront her own tragic past. Born in 1964, Langley grew up in the North East of England, where the legend of Richard III still held a strong grip on the local culture. Her family had connections to the area, and she often visited the old monastery at Leicester, where her mother had converted to Christianity. As she explored the town's history, Langley became increasingly fascinated with the stories surrounding King Richard III, who was believed to have died in 1485, after his defeat in the Battle of Bosworth Field. The king's body was reportedly buried in the Greyfriars Church, but its location remained a mystery for over 500 years, fueling the legend of the "missing" king. Langley's journey began in earnest when she was in her mid-40s, and she started researching Richard III's life and reign. She was particularly captivated by a book about the king's life by historian Paul Murray Kendall, which painted a complex and nuanced picture of a man often depicted as a villain in popular culture. As she delved deeper into the subject, Langley became convinced that Richard III was a victim of circumstance, maligned by his contemporaries and later by historians, who perpetuated the image of a cruel and power-hungry ruler. Despite lacking a background in academic history, Langley's determination and passion propelled her to embark on a series of trips to Leicester, where she spent countless hours researching and photographing the old monastery. She also made contact with a group of historians and archaeologists who were working on a project to excavate the Greyfriars site, with the hope of finding Richard III's remains. Langley's obsession with finding Richard III was motivated by a personal tragedy that occurred in her early 20s. Her two-year-old daughter, Lydia, had a rare genetic disorder that led to her death from a brain tumor. Langley's world was shattered by her loss, and she struggled to cope with the grief. Her search for Richard III became an all-consuming passion, allowing her to confront her emotions and find a sense of purpose. The turning point in Langley's quest came when she stumbled upon a 3D model of the Greyfriars site, created by the team of historians and archaeologists working on the excavation project. The model revealed a previously unknown tunnel system beneath the old church, which Langley became convinced was the location of Richard III's tomb. She wrote a letter to the excavation team, proposing that King Richard III lay beneath their feet, where she believed the tunnel would lead them to his remains. Langley's idea was initially dismissed by the team, but she persisted in her advocacy, attending numerous meetings and meetings with the researchers. Her persistence eventually won over the team, who agreed to conduct a thorough search of the site in search of Richard III's remains. In 2012, the Leicester City Council granted the team permission to dig up the Greyfriars site, despite opposition from local residents who feared for the loss of their city's heritage. The excavation team spent several weeks excavating the tunnel system, but they found nothing. Desperate for a break in the case, Langley and the team turned their attention to a smaller, more remote area of the site, where the remains of a young male had been discovered. The breakthrough moment came when a piece of human bone was unearthed in the trench. Further analysis revealed that the bone had been damaged by a sword wound, which Langley believed was a strong indicator that it belonged to Richard III. A DNA test was conducted on the bone, and in August 2012, the results revealed that it was a close match to a surviving descendant of Richard III. The world watched with bated breath as the team carefully excavated the remainder of the skeleton. The remains were eventually confirmed to be those of King Richard III, and Langley's efforts were hailed as the catalyst for the discovery. She continued to work with the research team to further analyze the remains and shed new light on the king's life and reign. Langley's story has been hailed as a testament to the power of amateur history and the impact that ordinary people can have on academic discourse. Her obsession with finding Richard III was initially seen as quixotic and even eccentric, but it ultimately led to one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 21st century. Through The Lost King, Langley's remarkable story shines a light on the complexities of history, the power of human passion and perseverance, and the importance of confronting the past in order to move forward.