Princes in the Tower Facts & Worksheets

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One of the most mysterious murders during 1483 in the Tower of London was of the two siblings, Prince Edward and Prince Richard. Years later, the search for more clues is not yet over, and some theories about their disappearance are still created. The truth is that they were both victims of the most brutal inter-family disputes the country had.

See the fact file below for more information on Princes in the Tower, or you can download our 27-page Princes in the Tower worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

FAMILY

• In 1464, Edward IV married Elizabeth Woodville, a widower.
• Their marriage received strong disapproval from many people in the court.
• Edward IV already expected their reactions; therefore, they held their wedding secretly at the chapel of Elizabeth’s family.
• No one but Elizabeth’s mother, Jacquetta, Countess of Rivers, knew of the wedding.
• Elizabeth came from a respected family and was considered the most beautiful woman on the Island of Britain.
• However, people said she was not a fit for kings, and her family had no diplomatic allies or titles.
• Furthermore, their family and her late husband were Lancastrian supporters.
• Edward’s cousin, Earl of Warwick, wanted Edward IV to marry a French princess to strengthen the support of the House of York.
• The marriage of Edward to Elizabeth enraged the Earl of Warwick, making him join the Lancastrians.
• The power and influence of Elizabeth’s family grew, which positively helped Edward IV.
• The court was further displeased when Elizabeth’s family got several favors.
• The power and influence of Elizabeth’s family grew, which positively helped Edward IV.
• Despite the objections, Edward IV and Elizabeth’s relationship was a success.
• During their marriage, they had three sons and seven daughters.

WAR OF THE ROSES

• A series of wars fighting over the throne of England was known as the Wars of Roses.
• The House of Lancaster was symbolized by the red rose, while the House of York by a white rose.
• The former was headed by Henry VI, while the latter was by Edward IV, his cousin.
• It was long known that their families had already had conflicts over the throne.
• Edward IV was able to take the throne and imprison Henry VI in 1461 in the Tower of London. 
• His few years as a ruler described him as violent and always out to defend the throne.
• However, in 1470, “readeption” happened.
• This event freed Henry VI from his imprisonment and reinstated him to the throne with the help of the Lancastrian supporters.
• Edward IV and his brother, the Duke of Gloucester, went to Flanders, while Elizabeth Woodville and their children went to St. Peter’s Sanctuary in Westminster Abbey.
• A month after their refuge in the Abbey, Prince Edward was born.
• In early 1471, Edward returned and defeated all of Henry’s followers in the Battle of Tewkesbury.
• Included in those killed was Henry VI’s heir, and Henry VI was brought to prison again.
• In May of the same year, Henry VI was announced dead.
• The cause of his death was unknown. 
• Some claimed that it was due to the extreme sadness he felt.
• Others claimed that he was killed by the agents of the Duke of Gloucester.
• The incident was favorable to Edward IV because it became the end of the Lancastrian line and strengthened his rule with two of his heirs, Edward and Richard.

THE DEATH OF EDWARD IV AND THE CORONATION OF THE NEW KING

• When Edward IV returned to the throne, he made Prince Edward the Prince of Wales.
• He was sent to Ludlow Castle, where his father spent his childhood, to be educated.
• Anthony, Lord Rivers, his maternal uncle, took care of him while he was there.
• Prince Edward was an intelligent and notable scholar.
• He was well taken care of, with balanced education and playtime in a healthy environment.
• On the other hand, his brother, Prince Richard, was born in 1473 in Shrewsbury.
• He stayed with their mother and other siblings.
• A month after his birth, he became the Duke of York.
• As early as four years old, he was arranged to marry Anne de Mowbray, who was five years old then.
• In 1477, Prince Richard became the Duke of Norfolk.
• On April 9, 1483, their father, Edward IV, died of an illness, possibly pneumonia or typhoid, which lasted for three weeks.
• However, before he died, King Edward IV assigned the Duke of Gloucester, his brother, as the Lord Protector of Prince Edward, now Edward V, the supposed heir to the throne.
• During this time, the Duke of Gloucester heard the news at Middleham Castle in Yorkshire.
• The twelve-year-old heir, Edward V, who was staying at Ludlow Castle, became the new king.
• Edward V immediately went to London with his uncle, Earl Rivers.
• On April 29, The Duke of Gloucester stopped and blocked the royal entourage Edward V was riding.
• On the next day, Earl Rivers and Elizabeth’s other son, Lord Richard Grey, were arrested despite protest from Edward V.
• Soon after they were arrested, they were executed.
• Edward IV’s death brought fear to Elizabeth.
• She lost power and control, she was unpopular in the court, and most of her family and close supporters were put to death.
• In the belief that it was for his protection and preparation for the heir’s coronation, Edward V was sent to the Tower of London on May 19, 1483, with their uncle’s command.
• Seeking refuge, Elizabeth, with her children and some servants, went to Westminster Abbey, bringing several possessions with them.
• Elizabeth was sure that they were safe in the sanctuary.
• She also knew that it was important that she kept her other son, the presumptive heir, Richard, protected by her side.
• However, the Lord Protector had also called for Prince Richard to join his brother in the Tower of London.
• Elizabeth resisted the command; however, she finally let him go and bid farewell because she knew she was never seeing him again.
• He joined his brother on June 16, 1483.
• There were no suspicions from the people when the brothers united in the Tower of London.
• Since both were still young, their safety was always the priority.
• There was a tradition that before the coronation, the new monarch was required to stay in the Tower of London until the ceremony.
• Edward V’s coronation was supposed to happen on May 4, 1483, but was postponed to June 25, 1483.
• While preparations were ongoing, the coronation was again indefinitely postponed by the Duke of Gloucester. 
• In the middle of June, the brothers were both proclaimed illegitimate.
• According to the Parliament, Edward IV was supposed to be married to Lady Eleanor Butler before his marriage to Elizabeth.
• Thus, their marriage was invalid, and their uncle was the only legitimate heir of the House of York.
• With the death of other siblings before Edward IV, The Duke of Gloucester was the only one left to take the throne.
• He was crowned on July 6 as King Richard III.
• King Richard III gathered all his enemies in the court, and he became more fearful of being thrown from his position.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE TWO SIBLINGS

• In the Great Chronicle, it was recorded that on June 16, the brothers were seen shooting arrows and playing in the Garden.
• Dominic Mancini, an Italian chronicler and diplomat was required to write a report on everything he witnessed and heard about life in court.
• He claimed that the brothers were taken out of the inner apartments of the Tower.
• Days passed, and the siblings were rarely seen until they were completely lost. 
• He also suggested that the princes may have been transferred from the Garden or Bloody Tower to the White Tower, where captives were.
• There was no information after this, and several debates and rumors were shared about what happened to the siblings.
• It was considered one of the darkest events in the history of the Tower.
• Later on, it was believed that Edward V and Prince Richard were silently murdered in autumn.
• With their disappearance, Elizabeth, their mother, came out of the Abbey with her other children and tried to reconcile with King Richard III.
• In the biography, The History of Richard III, written by Sir Thomas More, Sir James Tyrrell was identified as the murderer under the command of King Richard III.
• According to the story, the princes were murdered by two agents of Sir James Tyrrell, Miles Forest and John Dighton.
• The said agents came to the chamber of the princes at midnight and smothered them to death while they were sleeping.
• Despite others who wanted the siblings out of the throne, King Richard III was still the primary suspect.
• In 1491, a man claimed he was Richard, Duke of York.
• He said he escaped from the Tower and had been on the run for the past years.
• This man, Perkin Warbeck, convinced several important people of his claim for six years.
• He even convinced the aunt of the siblings, Margaret of York.
• Perkin Warbeck’s failed attempt to invade England in 1497 got him imprisoned in the Tower of London.
• He later on confessed to his lies and was executed.
• The princes’ story was also William Shakespeare’s inspiration in making his piece, Richard III.

REMAINS

• In 1674, a wooden chest with two skeletons was found when King Charles II ordered the demolition of the south of White Tower.
• The skeletons were found in the foundations of the staircase.
• After becoming a display tourist attraction, Charles II prepared for the reburial of the skeletons in Westminster Abbey.
• In 1933, they were re-examined by forensics, and it was concluded that they were the skeletons of two boys, possibly aged 10-12.
• It was also claimed that the skulls had evidence of a congenital condition that caused missing teeth.
• They believed this was inherited from Cecily, Duchess of York, who was their grandmother.
• However, one member of the Looking for Richard project, Dr. John Ashdown-Hill, indicated there was no genetic irregularity on Richard’s skull.

Princes in the Towers Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Princes in the Tower across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Princes in the Tower. One of the most mysterious murders during 1483 in the Tower of London was of the two siblings, Prince Edward and Prince Richard.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Princes in the Tower Facts
2. The Disappearance
3. Spy Game
4. Truth or Lie?
5. Disappearing Letters
6. Word Association
7. Think Of It
8. The Dispute
9. The Main Suspect 
10. Impostor
11. Shakespeare

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the Princes in the Tower?

The Princes in the Tower were King Edward V of England and his younger brother Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York.

When were they placed in the Tower of London?

The Princes were placed in the Tower of London in 1483, shortly after the death of their father, King Edward IV.

Why were they placed in the Tower?

They were placed in the Tower for their protection as the country was in a state of political upheaval and uncertainty. However, it is widely believed that they were held captive and ultimately murdered by their uncle, King Richard III.

What is the legacy of the Princes in the Tower?

The legacy of the Princes in the Tower is one of mystery, tragedy, and intrigue. Their story has captured the imagination of people for centuries and continues to be a subject of historical debate and speculation.

What happened to the Princes in the Tower?

The fate of the Princes in the Tower remains a mystery to this day. They were last seen alive in the summer of 1483, but their bodies were never found.

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Link will appear as Princes in the Tower Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 8, 2023