Few historical mysteries have captured the imagination of scholars, novelists, and the general public as much as the story of the Princes in the Tower. The fate of these two young boys—Edward V of England and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York—remains one of the most enduring enigmas of English history. Their disappearance in the Tower of London in 1483 is often cited as one of the most infamous episodes of the Wars of the Roses. For over five centuries, speculation has swirled about what really happened to them, who was responsible for their apparent deaths, and why their story continues to resonate.
This essay will examine the historical context, the role of the Tower of London, the circumstances of the princes’ disappearance, the main suspects, and the lasting legacy of this mystery.
Historical Background: The Wars of the Roses
The 15th century was a turbulent period in England, dominated by dynastic struggles between the House of Lancaster and the House of York, both branches of the Plantagenet dynasty. This conflict, known as the Wars of the Roses, saw the throne change hands multiple times.
Edward IV, of the Yorkist line, emerged victorious in 1461 and ruled England with interruptions until his death in April 1483. He left behind a large family, including his 12-year-old son, Edward, who was proclaimed Edward V. However, because Edward was underage, a regency would need to be established. This set the stage for political intrigue and ultimately the disappearance of the princes.
The Tower of London: A Fortress, Palace, and Prison
The setting of this drama, the Tower of London, was not merely a prison in the 15th century. Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the Tower served as a royal fortress, treasury, armory, and residence. Monarchs often lodged there before their coronations, as tradition dictated.
Thus, when Edward V and his younger brother Richard were lodged in the Tower in 1483, it was not at first an ominous sign. The Tower was where Edward was to await his coronation. It was also where royal children might be kept for security reasons during times of unrest. Nevertheless, the Tower’s dual identity—as both royal palace and prison—meant that it could also serve as a place of confinement.
The Tower’s grim reputation grew over the centuries, but in 1483, its significance lay in its symbolism of royal power. That it later became associated with the imprisonment and presumed murder of two child princes only added to its dark aura.
The Princes: Edward V and Richard, Duke of York
Edward V was the eldest legitimate son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Intelligent, educated, and described by contemporaries as precocious, he had been raised with the expectation of kingship. His younger brother, Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, was just nine years old in 1483.
Both boys were legitimate heirs under English law, and their claim to the throne was strong. However, their youth and the political turmoil surrounding their succession left them vulnerable to manipulation by ambitious adults.
The Rise of Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Edward IV’s death created a power vacuum. The late king’s younger brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was named Lord Protector for the boy-king Edward V. Richard quickly took control, intercepting Edward on his way to London and placing him in the Tower. Within weeks, he also secured custody of Richard, Duke of York.
By June 1483, rumors began circulating that Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville had been invalid due to a pre-contract, making all their children illegitimate. Parliament, persuaded by Richard’s supporters, declared Edward V and his siblings illegitimate in a document known as Titulus Regius. This cleared the way for Richard to be proclaimed King Richard III in July 1483.
At this point, the two princes were never seen in public again.
The Disappearance of the Princes
The disappearance of Edward V and Richard of York between the summer and autumn of 1483 remains one of the great mysteries of English history. Contemporary accounts suggest they were last seen playing in the Tower grounds. Rumors soon spread that they had been murdered, but no official confirmation was ever provided.
Chroniclers such as Dominic Mancini, an Italian visitor to England, wrote that the princes were seen less frequently until they vanished altogether. Mancini’s account, written in December 1483, noted that Edward was “like a victim prepared for sacrifice” and that the boys were believed to be dead, though he admitted he had no direct proof.
Who Killed the Princes? Theories and Suspects
1. Richard III
The most common theory is that Richard III ordered the deaths of his nephews to secure his hold on the throne. The boys’ existence posed a constant threat, as rebels could rally behind them. Richard’s reputation, cemented by later Tudor propaganda (especially Shakespeare’s play Richard III), painted him as a ruthless usurper who would not hesitate to murder children.
However, there is no direct evidence linking Richard to the crime, and some historians argue that his guilt was exaggerated by his enemies after his death at Bosworth in 1485.
2. Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham
A former ally of Richard III, Buckingham turned against him later in 1483 and joined a rebellion. Some historians suggest Buckingham may have acted independently to eliminate the princes, either to curry favor with Richard or to position himself as a potential claimant. His access to the Tower and ambition make him a plausible suspect, though his motives are less clear.
3. Henry VII (Henry Tudor)
Another theory points to Henry Tudor, who defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 and became Henry VII. If the princes had survived into his reign, they would have posed a direct threat to his claim. Some argue that Henry ordered their deaths after seizing power, though this would mean the boys had lived in secret captivity for two years.
Henry also destroyed many copies of Titulus Regius, suggesting a desire to erase the narrative of illegitimacy and strengthen his claim. Whether he also eliminated the princes remains speculative.
4. Other Possibilities
Some fringe theories suggest the princes were never killed but smuggled abroad, possibly to Burgundy. This theory gained traction when impostors such as Perkin Warbeck later claimed to be Richard, Duke of York. However, these claims were never conclusively proven.
The Bones in the Tower
In 1674, during renovations of the Tower of London, workmen discovered a wooden box containing two small skeletons beneath a staircase in the White Tower. King Charles II ordered them interred in Westminster Abbey as the presumed remains of the princes.
Modern science has yet to resolve the question. The bones were examined in 1933, and though they were determined to be of children roughly the right age, no DNA analysis was conducted. Requests for modern forensic testing have been denied by the monarchy, leaving the matter unresolved.
The Legacy of the Princes in the Tower
The mystery of the princes has endured because it encapsulates themes of innocence, power, and betrayal. It also reflects the murky politics of the late Middle Ages, where legitimacy and succession could be overturned by accusations, propaganda, or force.
The story influenced literature, most famously in Shakespeare’s Richard III, where the king is depicted as a hunchbacked villain who murders his nephews. While Shakespeare wrote under the Tudors—who had every reason to demonize Richard III—his dramatization shaped public perception for centuries.
Today, the Tower of London draws millions of visitors annually, many intrigued by the fate of the princes. Guides recount the chilling tale as part of the Tower’s dark history, alongside other stories of imprisonment and execution. The princes’ story has also inspired countless novels, plays, and historical investigations, keeping the mystery alive.
Conclusion
The fate of the Princes in the Tower remains an unsolved riddle of English history. Whether they were murdered by Richard III, Buckingham, Henry VII, or another figure entirely, their disappearance symbolizes the ruthless nature of medieval politics.
The Tower of London, with its dual role as palace and prison, became both the backdrop and symbol of their tragic story. For Edward V and Richard of York, the Tower was not a stepping stone to coronation, but a tomb of silence and mystery.
Centuries later, the unanswered questions about their fate continue to fascinate. The mystery endures not only because of the lack of evidence, but because it touches on universal themes—power, legitimacy, and the vulnerability of innocence in the face of ambition. The Princes in the Tower remain, in the collective imagination, eternal ghosts haunting the stones of the Tower of London.
