Book SummaryThe Princes in the Tower, by Philippa Langley

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Princes in the Tower

The fate of the two young princes, who disappeared, remains an enduring mystery.

Edward V, the youthful monarch

Gaining insight into Edward V's formative years and character might provide essential hints for the investigation.

Langley conducts a detailed analysis of Edward V's formative years and character by meticulously reviewing contemporaneous historical records. These insights are crucial to understanding Edward's probable mental condition during the tumultuous events of 1483, which contests the common perception of him as a passive and delicate young man.

Edward received the designation of Prince of Wales on April 23, 1471, after his father, King Edward IV, reclaimed the throne just twelve days earlier, and he was born on November 2, 1470, at a time when his father's rule was momentarily disrupted. He was raised in a lively household with his siblings. He resided at Ludlow Castle near the Welsh border from around the age of three, where a council established by Edward IV managed his estate and groomed him for his anticipated future as England's king. His Woodville relatives had a considerable influence on the council's decisions. As he matured, his daily routine was meticulously organized, with a strong emphasis on regular spiritual practices and an esteemed educational program that encompassed studies in the arts, falconry, equestrian skills, and archery. He was known for his deep commitment to religion, keen intelligence, and a fervent passion for the written word and verse. His demeanor and actions unmistakably mirrored those of his father, and his attractive features were remarked upon by historians. As Edward neared adolescence, he could have begun to sense the limitations imposed on him by the Woodvilles' influence.

The ongoing scrutiny of Edward V's imprisonment in the Tower of London remains a pivotal topic.

Langley thoroughly traces Edward V's movements during the pivotal weeks leading up to his disappearance. An analysis of these occurrences suggests a calculated and tactical collaboration between the queen, Edward, and his Woodville relatives, implying their probable knowledge of a prior pledge by Edward IV that posed a substantial threat to their security.

Upon the death of his father on April 3, 1483, Edward, the Prince of Wales, ascended to the throne as King Edward V of England, an event that was acknowledged in Ludlow. The delay of his coronation by a month facilitated the amassing of supporters, enabled the newly-appointed king to journey to London, and gave his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the opportunity to come back from Yorkshire and take up the role of Lord Protector. It was crucial to postpone proceedings since Edward V had not reached the age of majority, being merely twelve years old. Edward left Ludlow on the 24th of April, with his paternal uncle, Earl Rivers, by his side. Edward and his entourage stayed overnight at Grafton Woodville, a residence of his Woodville relatives, while his guards were stationed ahead on the route in a location other than Northampton, where they were supposed to join his uncle Richard. Upon his arrival in London on May 4th, Edward was initially housed at the Bishop's Palace and then moved to the royal apartments in the Tower on May 19th, in preparation for his crowning ceremony set for June 22nd.

Central to the inquiry is the circumstance that Edward V and his brother Richard, the Duke of York, were held captive in the Tower of London.

Langley's analysis underscores the crucial point that the disappearance of the two boys while they were at the Tower Palace is essential for ascribing Richard III's presumed responsibility. Upon his ascension to the throne, Richard deemed it essential to secure his rule by eliminating his nephews, the rightful heirs. Langley's investigation reveals a nuanced understanding of the events, indicating that the time the princes spent in the Tower, as well as its purpose and wider consequences, may have been misunderstood.

Upon arriving in London, Edward V marked the transition to his new residence by initiating two decrees, one at the Bishop's Palace and the other within the Tower, as he readied himself for the coronation ceremony that was planned to take place six weeks thereafter. Richard and his sibling convened on the 16th of June, a Monday. Last Monday, the Duke of York was surrendered to the Cardinal, the Lord Chancellor, and a host of lay nobles amidst a throng of armored individuals, during this event the Duke of Buckingham made his acquaintance in the principal room of Westminster. Upon arriving at the Star Chamber's threshold, the Lord Protector greeted him with warmth and then led him, in the company of the Lord Cardinal, to his current residence within the Tower, a place where, thankfully, his morale remains high. On June 22, 1483, sermons in London proclaimed that Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, were barred from succession as their father, Edward IV, had been previously wed in secret, nullifying their claim to the throne. The confirmation of Richard, Duke of Gloucester's legitimate claim to the crown by the collective governing bodies marked a pivotal change in leadership, propelling him to kingship and resulting in a constitutional crisis rather than the anticipated coronation. He gave his consent on the 26th of June.

Investigations are currently underway to determine whether Edward V was relocated to the Channel Islands.

Langley's meticulous research reveals a series of events, strategic choices, and shifts in allegiances within the king's inner circle that suggest a deliberate attempt to safeguard Edward V, and perhaps his brother Richard, Duke of York, following the failed abduction scheme and prior to Robert Markenfield's successful retrieval of the monarch, or through a separate series of occurrences involving other individuals.

On March 1, 1484, Elizabeth Woodville emerged from sanctuary and placed her daughters...

The Princes in the Tower Summary The disappearance of the young royals occurred within a specific historical setting and context.

The struggle came to be referred to as the Cousins' War.

The contention was primarily fueled by contentious issues concerning the succession to the throne.

Langley emphasizes that the 15th-century chaos was rooted in deliberate disruptions to the line of succession in England, worsened by attempts to delegitimize heirs, particularly those who were progeny of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, whose claim to the throne was the strongest legally, even more so than the claim of the House of Lancaster.

Edward III took measures in 1376-1377 to establish a legal obstacle with the intention of preventing his granddaughter Phillippa from inheriting the throne following his demise, a right she would have been entitled to through her father, Lionel, who held the title of Clarence's Duke. In the 1450s, Richard, a descendant of the third Duke of York, strove to counteract the marginalization of his family line, while the ongoing disruption of the hereditary succession by the Lancastrian dynasty since 1399 remained a significant historical event. A member of Edward III's bloodline, Henry VI, was now the reigning monarch.

Richard III and Henry VII both implemented tactics to...