Richard III descendents lose High Court battle over remains

Vanessa Roe, who believes she is the 16th great-niece of Richard III, tells ITV News she feels 'no justice' has been done for the former King of England after the High Court ruled he should be buried in Leicester and not York.

The lawyer who spearheaded Richard III's descendants' legal challenge has described the High Court decision as "highly regrettable".

Matthew Howarth, partner at Yorkshire law firm Gordons, said his clients were now considering appealing against the ruling.

Mr Howarth said: "We obviously respect and accept today's verdict, and are grateful to have had the opportunity to raise this matter before the courts, but are naturally disappointed at the decision, which we regard as highly regrettable."

Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "I'm glad the waiting is over and the issue is finally settled.

"It has been a very undignified time as you must remember this is the body of a man - and a king of England. He deserves to be buried with dignity and honour in Leicester Cathedral.

"Next year it will be 530 years since Richard III died at Bosworth - the last King to die in battle - and it will be with great pride that the people of Leicestershire will be part of the ceremony."

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has blasted Plantagenet Alliance, the group who fought to have Richard III buried in York, for wasting taxpayers money.

He said he was pleased with the High Court's decision to rebury the King's remains in Leicester, where they were found.

He added: "I am frustrated and angry that the Plantagenet Alliance - a group with tenuous claims to being relatives of Richard III - have taken up so much time and public money."

Descendants of the 'last medieval king of England' claim his last wish was to be buried at York Minster despite losing a High Court battle today.

The remains of the king, whose death in 1485 ended the Wars of the Roses, will be reburied in Leicester, where his remains were found in a car park in 2012.

The Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, said:

"After the frustration of recent months it is now in the hands of the Cathedral to make proper provision for the re-interment of Richard III, and that his remains would be laid in a tomb fit for a king."

READ: King Richard III remains to be buried in Leicester

The remains of King Richard III will be buried in Leicester, where his remains were found in a car park.

Three High Court judges ruled they should stay there rather than be returned to his descendants.

They said it was "time for King Richard III to be given a dignified reburial, and finally laid to rest".

It is thought the remains will now be buried at Leicester Cathedral.

The High Court has ruled that the University of Leicester has the right to bury King Richard III's remains in the city's cathedral.

The King's remains were discovered buried under a council car park in Leicester in 2012.

Relatives of King Richard III won the right to bring High Court proceedings to challenge where his remains should be buried, but now a judicial review has ruled that the King's remains will be reburied in Leicester.

More reaction to follow.

Distant relatives of King Richard III have lost their High Court battle with Justice Secretary Chris Grayling over where the monarch's recently-discovered remains should be reburied

The Plantagenet Alliance Ltd, formed by the distant relatives of King Richard III, are fighting for the late monarch's remains to be buried at York Minster, claiming it was the king's wish.

Read: High Court battle over King Richard III's final resting place begins today

They are bringing judicial review proceedings against Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, the University of Leicester - which intends to bury the remains at Leicester Cathedral - and Leicester City Council.

Their solicitor, Matthew Howarth, from law firm Gordons, said:

At the heart of the case is a Ministry of Justice decision to grant a "section 25 licence" under the Burial Act giving archaeologists from the university licence to excavate, and the university permission to decide where to re-bury the bones, which were exhumed in the city 19 months ago.