It took 500 years, but Richard III is now getting a king's burial

King Richard III is receiving another chance at having a funeral worthy of a monarch.

The king was killed in battle in 1485, but no one knew where he was buried until archaeologists discovered his skeleton in Leicester, England, in 2012, underneath a parking lot on the former site of a church, The Washington Post reports. On Thursday, he will be re-interred during a service attended by members of the royal family, just a few steps away from where he was laid to rest more than 500 years ago. In the three days leading up to his reburial, Richard III's casket will lie inside Leicester Cathedral for public viewing.

On Sunday, throngs of people came out to the battlefield where he was killed — some in period costumes — to watch as his funeral cortege, led by knights wearing armor and on horseback, made its way through the town. A private service will also be held Monday at Leicester Cathedral for members of the Richard III society, which is dedicated to clearing the reputation of the much-maligned king. —Catherine Garcia

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Iframe Code

View image | gettyimages.com

Iframe Code

View image | gettyimages.com

Iframe Code

View image | gettyimages.com

Iframe Code

View image | gettyimages.com