Distant relative sees hunt for grave of Richard III at city-centre car park

Canadian-born Michael Ibsen watched as archaeological experts from Leicester University used ground penetrating radar equipment to find the best spots to begin their search at the car park off Greyfriars in Leicester.

His mother Joy Ibsen, who died four years ago aged 82, was a direct descendant of the king’s eldest sister, Anne of York. Born in the UK, the journalist, the 16th generation niece of Richard III, emigrated to Canada in her 20s.

King Richard III had close ties to Yorkshire, and his childhood home was at Middleham Castle. His troubled two-year reign up until 1485 was plagued by revolts and the legend of the Princes in the Tower.

Mr Ibsen, a furniture maker who is living in London, said his mother would have been thrilled by the archaeology project.

The 55-year-old, who was born in Canada, said: “The family were entertained when she got the call several years ago from a historian claiming she was a descendant.

“We thought it was more of a story than anything else but as time went by it became more serious and a DNA connection to Richard’s eldest sister Anne of York was found.”

The body of Richard III was brought to Leicester where he was buried in the church of the Franciscan Friary, known as Greyfriars, after he fell in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

But the exact whereabouts of the church have become lost over time. While hopes are high of finding the site under the car park which is used by council workers, historical experts are less confident about locating the monarch’s remains during the two-week search.

There are rumours that the monarch’s bones could have been thrown into the River Soar after the dissolution of the monasteries.

If bones are found in the hunt for Richard III’s remains, they will be assessed for trauma to the skeleton, as the monarch was killed in battle and then be subject to DNA analysis.