Does Richard III's DNA question the Queen's right to the throne? Analysis reveals relative of the monarch may have been conceived out of wedlock
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He was one of the nation's most notorious monarchs in life, and Richard III is still creating controversy more than 500 years after his death.
Genetic analysis of a skeleton discovered beneath a car park in Leicester three years ago has confirmed it did indeed belong to the last Plantagenet king.
Much more intriguingly, it held a secret that could shake the foundations of the Tudor dynasty. The genetic discovery even raises a question mark over the current Queen's royal heritage.
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Genetic analysis of a battle-scarred skeleton (pictured) discovered under a council car park in Leicester three years ago has confirmed it did indeed belong to the last Plantagenet king, but it raises a question mark over the current Queen's royal heritage
DNA analysis revealed that one of Richard III's male relatives was cuckolded - leading to his wife giving birth to another man's child.
Depending on just who was unfaithful, it could have far-reaching consequences.
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An international team of researchers, led by Leicester University, pieced together sections of Richard III's family tree, right down to relatives who are alive today.
The team then compared the DNA of these living relations with genetic material extracted from the 15th century king's teeth and bones.
DNA analysis revealed that one of Richard III's male relatives was cuckolded - leading to his wife giving birth to another man's child. The king's skeleton, which was discovered under a car park is shown
Analysis of the Y chromosome, which is passed down the generations from father to son, revealed a break in the male lineage (pictured). It isn't clear where in the family tree it occurred
Analysis showed Richard III almost certainly had blue eyes and blond hair when he was young and it got darker as he grew older. This portrait shows the king with light brown hair and blue eyes
Samples of mitochondrial DNA - a type of genetic material passed through the female line - proved to be a match to Richard III's eldest sister Anne of York.
However, while the female line of inheritance is intact, the male one is not.
Analysis of the Y chromosome, which is passed down the generations from father to son, revealed a tantalising break in the male lineage.
It isn't clear where in the family tree it occurred.
But, if it occurred close to the top of the tree, near Richard III, it could be of 'key historical significance regarding royal succession'.
Of particular interest is the link between Edward III and his son John of Gaunt.
If John of Gaunt was actually another man's son, the Tudors' right to the throne is threatened.
This is because Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, claimed his royal blood came from John of Gaunt.
Henry's mother, Margaret Beaufort, was John of Gaunt's great-granddaughter.
If John of Gaunt was not Edward III's son, and so did not have royal blood, the 'claim of the Tudor dynasty would be brought into question', the researchers said.
This is important because the current Queen can trace her ancestry back to Henry VII, via James I and Mary, Queen of Scots.
The same break in the chain would threaten the claims of the Lancastrian kings Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI, while a different break in the chain would mean that Richard III's own claim on the crown would be illegitimate, the journal Nature Communications reports.
The work was funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Professor Kevin Schürer, from the University of Leicester, said that while 'some may wish to' use his results to speculate on the Queen's right to rule, it wasn't for him to do so.
Samples of mitochondrial DNA - a type of genetic material passed through the female line - proved to be a match to Richard III's eldest sister Anne of York. However, while the female line of inheritance is intact, the male one is not. A photograph of the king's skull is shown
Professor Kevin Schürer from the University of Leicester said that while 'some may wish to' use his results to speculate on the Queen's (pictured) right to rule, it wasn't for him to do so
He said that royal succession takes 'many twists and turns' and added that Henry Tudor took the throne by force - by defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
The professor said that it is also much more likely that the break in the chain occurred lower down the line - and so would have no effect on royal succession.
He added: 'This study has closed one door, but its opened up another interesting one to which we don't necessarily have the answers at this particular point.
'There will be a lot of interest in trying to identify who the prime suspect is. All of the men here are suspects. In fact, it's not the men it's their wives who we are talking about. These things happen.'
Dr Steven Gunn, an Oxford University historian and leading expert on the Tudors, said that there is a lot more to being accepted as monarch than simple bloodline, and the research is unlikely to have any implications for the House of Windsor.
An international team of researchers, led by Leicester University, pieced together sections Richard III's family tree, right down to relatives who are alive today (pictured). The team then compared the DNA of these living relations with genetic material extracted from the 15th century king's teeth and bones
He added that it is possible that the cuckolded man knew his son wasn't his own but kept it secret out of shame.
Having a son to pass land down to is also important in aristocrats' eyes.
The analysis also showed that Richard III almost certainly had blue eyes and likely had blonde hair - although it may have darkened with age.
When the genetic analysis is combined with other information, including the skeleton's battle scars, twisted spine and age, there is at least a 99.999 per cent probability it belonged to Richard III.
Richard III was depicted by William Shakespeare as a tyrannical hunchback who murdered two princes in the Tower of London.
He ruled for just two years before being killed at the Battle of Bosworth - ending the Wars of the Roses and the Plantagenet dynasty.
His naked body was paraded through Leicester and dumped in shallow grave where it remained for more than 500 years.
Of particular interest is the link between Edward III and his son John of Gaunt (illustrated). If John of Gaunt was actually another man's son, the Tudors' right to the throne is threatened
A CONTROVERSIAL MONARCH
Richard was born in 1452 at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire.
During the War of the Roses, Richard's father, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York was killed and in 1470, Richard and his brother Edward were exiled when Henry VI, from the rival house of Lancaster, took back the throne.
Henry's reign was short lived and during a battle the following year, Edward became king.
In 1483, Edward died and Richard was named as protector of the realm for Edward's son and successor, the 12-year-old Edward V.
In 1485, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond launched an attack on Richard III on Bosworth Field in Leicestershire. Many of Richard III's key lieutenants defected and he was killed in battle (illustrated). Henry Tudor took the throne as Henry VII
Edward V and his brother Richard were placed in the Tower of London and after a campaign to condemn the deceased king's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, the princes were declared illegitimate.
Richard III took to the throne the following day.
He was crowned in July and in August that year, the two princes disappeared.
Rumours spread the king had killed them to remove any threat they may have posed to his reign.
In 1485, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond launched an attack on Richard III on Bosworth Field in Leicestershire.
Many of Richard III's key lieutenants defected and he was killed in battle. Henry Tudor took the throne as Henry VII.
It has been confirmed that Richard III had a curvature of the spine, although rumours of a withered arm haven't been verfied form the bones found in the Leicester car park last year.
Last year scientists discovered the king was riddled with roundworm after finding large numbers of the parasite's eggs in soil taken from Richard III's pelvic region.
The find suggests that the king's intestines were infected with roundworm during his life.
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