The Reburial 

The week of the 25th of March 2015, for Ricardians was a week when King Richard finally received the honour, dignity and recognition that had for centuries been denied him. The people of Leicestershire turned out in their thousands today to pay their respects to King Richard III as the cortège carrying his coffin was taken from the University of Leicester back to Bosworth via the surrounding villages, returning to Leicester and St Martin's Cathedral late afternoon. This time King Richard's return was one of respect for a slain king, in contrast to the disrespect of August 1485. Thousand people viewed King Richard's coffin those few days leading up the reinterment, as it rested in repose in Leicester Cathedral.

 

At times the queue snaked through the streets of the city with some having to wait up to three hours before reaching the cathedral. Thousands of Ricardians had travelled from all over the world to attend this most special week, a week that every Ricardian had always dreamed would happen. On Thursday the 26th of March the eyes of the world were on Leicester as King Richard III was reburied in the city's cathedral with pageantry, solemnity and honour.The service was one of great dignity and beauty, presided over by both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Leicester. The Royal Family was represented by H.R.H The Countess of Wessex, the Society's Patron H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester and H.R.H The Duchess of Gloucester.H.M. The Queen sent a message which noted: 'the reinterment of King Richard III is an event of great national and international significance. Today we recognise a King who lived through turbulent times and whose Christian faith sustained him in life and death.'

 

The congregation included representatives of all those associated with the finding and identification of King Richard's remains, most especially Philippa Langley and the Looking for Richard Team, the Richard III Society and the University of Leicester. There were also descendants of those on both sides of the Wars of the Roses, together with representatives of organisations in Leicester and Leicestershire and members of the public. In his sermon the Bishop of Leicester noted 'People have come in their thousands from around the world to this place of honour, not to judge or condemn but to stand humble and reverent … From car park to cathedral … Today we come to give this King, and these mortal remains the dignity and honour denied to them in death.' The Bishop also acknowledged the Richard III Society's key role in promoting a reappraisal of the King's posthumous reputation.The Archbishop of Canterbury presided over the reburial and offered prayers, together with a representative of the Roman Catholic Church. King Richard's coffin was carried to his grave by a bearer party comprising members of the armed forces, whilst a specially commissioned anthem 'Ghostly Grace' was sung. Earth from Fotheringhay, Middleham and Bosworth was then scattered over the coffin as it lay in the grave.Following the reburial the actor Benedict Cumberbatch read a poem specially written by the Poet Laureate, which included the lines:'or I once dreamed of this, your future breath in prayer for me, lost long, forever found;'It was an historic and very moving experience for all present, and now after 530 years an anointed King of England at last rests in peace, honour and dignity.