Michael Winter

USA TODAY

DNA analysis confirms — at least to a 99.999% probability — that the 15th-century skeleton found under a parking lot two years ago is indeed that of King Richard III of England, researchers announced Tuesday.

"Even with our highly conservative analysis, the evidence is overwhelming that these are indeed the remains of King Richard III, thereby closing an over 500-year-old missing person's case," said geneticist Turi King of the University of Leicester, who led the DNA effort.

While the genetic and genealogical findings settled one historical mystery, they also revealed another intrigue: apparent adultery by a female relative somewhere on the family tree.

The evidence that the spine-twisted skeleton found at the site of the old Greyfriars Abbey in Leicester was Richard's came from DNA that matched two female relatives on the maternal side of his family, the researchers said.

Genetic markers inherited through the paternal line — from King Edward III (1312–1377) down to Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (1744-1803) — differed, however. That indicates a smoldering gun of infidelity, giving genealogists grist for further study.

"The break in the Y-chromosome line is not overly surprising given the incidence of non-paternity, but does pose interesting speculative questions over succession as a result," said Kevin Schürer of the University of Leicester, who led the genealogical research.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

Richard was buried unceremoniously after being brutally killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. He was the last English king to die in battle, and his death marked the end of the 300-plus-year Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the 118-year reign of the House of Tudor.

Immortalized by Shakespeare as the vile, limping "hunchbacked king," the examination of his skeleton revealed he had severe scoliosis — a curvature of the spine — but did not have a humped back.

The research team also determined that his eyes were blue, as depicted in portraits, but that his hair was probably blond or dark blond, not brown.

Next up for the researchers: sequencing Richard's complete genome.