The Princes in the Tower were Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. The two brothers were the only sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville alive at the time of their father's death. Then 12 and 9 years old, they were lodged in the Tower of London by the man appointed to look after them, the Lord Protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. This was supposed to be in preparation for Edward's coronation as king.
After Richard took the throne for himself, it is assumed that they were murdered. This may have occurred sometime around 1483, but apart from their disappearance, the only evidence is circumstantial.
Read more about Princes In The Tower: Deaths, Suspects, Evidence and Rumours, Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the words princes and/or tower:
“What is saved in the cinema when it achieves art is a spontaneous continuity with all mankind. It is not an art of the princes or the bourgeoisie. It is popular and vagrant. In the sky of the cinema people learn what they might have been and discover what belongs to them apart from their single lives.”
—John Berger (b. 1926)
“The tower said, One!
And then a steeple.
They spoke to themselves....”
—Robert Frost (18741963)