The Princes in the Tower

In 1483, twelve-year-old Edward V and his nine-year-old brother Richard, Duke of York, were imprisoned in the Tower of London by their uncle, who became Richard III. The boys were never seen again. Their ghosts, two children in white nightgowns, have been reported walking the Tower ever since.

The Disappearance

After the death of Edward IV in 1483, his young son became Edward V. However, the boys’ uncle had them declared illegitimate and took the throne as Richard III. The princes were moved to the Tower, ostensibly for their own protection.

They were seen playing on the grounds for a time, then never again. Their fate became one of England’s most enduring mysteries.

The Bones

In 1674, workmen discovered bones of two children beneath a staircase in the Tower. Charles II had them interred in Westminster Abbey as the princes. Modern scientists have requested DNA testing, but permission has not been granted.

The Ghosts

Since the 15th century, guards and visitors have reported seeing two boys in white nightgowns walking the Tower. They appear sad and frightened, holding hands as they wander. They are most often seen in the Bloody Tower, where they were last known to be housed.

Witnesses describe an overwhelming sense of tragedy accompanying the apparitions.

Assessment

Whether murdered by Richard III, Henry VII, or another, the princes’ fate remains unknown. Their ghosts represent innocence destroyed by political ambition, forever trapped in the fortress where they met their end.