Photo of the earliest surviving portrait of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral, as DNA analysis has identified two female-line relatives of the king living today, but new findings show evidence of at least one break in the male line - an historic illegitimacy - which could have far-reaching consequences (University of Leicester/PA Wire)

The skull and bones of King Richard III, as a genetic discovery related to King Richard III threatens to shake the foundations of the Tudor dynasty and even raises a question mark over the current Queen's royal heritage (University of Leicester/PA Wire)

When the body of Richard III was discovered in a car park in Leicester in 2012, archaeologists knew it was a momentous find.

But little did they realise that it might expose the skeletons in the cupboard of the British aristocracy, and even call into question the bloodline of the royal family.

In order to prove that the skeleton really was Richard III, scientists needed to take a DNA sample and match it to his descendants.

Genetic testing through his maternal DNA proved conclusively that the body was the king.

However, when they checked the male line they discovered something odd. The DNA did not match, showing that at some point in history an adulterous affair had broken the paternal chain.

Although it is impossible to say when the affair happened, if it occurred around the time of Edward III (1312- 1377) it could call into question whether kings like Henry VI, Henry VII and Henry VIII had royal blood, and therefore the right to rule.

Without his claim to royalty, Henry VII is unlikely to have been able to raise an army for the Battle of Bosworth Field, in which Richard III was killed, and the history of England could have been very different.

And it has implications for Britain's current royal family, who also share a direct bloodline to the Tudors.

Kevin Schurer, Professor of English Local History at the University of Leicester, said: "The first thing we need to get out of the way is that we are not indicating that Her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth II) should not be on the throne.

"There are 19 links where the chain could have been broken so it is statistically more probable that it happened at a time where it didn't matter.

"However, there are parts of the chain which if broken could hypothetically affect royalty."

Because Richard III was childless, scientists looked at the descendants of Edward III, his great-great grandfather.

Genetically, fathers pass on a copy of their Y chromosome to their sons, so Richard and Edward should carry the same DNA.

Likewise, any descendent of Edward's would share the same Y chromosome as Richard, and a match would prove his royal descent.

However scientists were intrigued to find that the DNA did not match, suggesting a 'non-paternity event' somewhere between Edward III and his descendants. In other words, someone was unknowingly illegitimate.

Illegitimate

If the illegitimate baby was Edward's son John of Gaunt (1340 - 1399) or his son Henry IV (1366 - 1413) then the royal blood line would be lost.

Prof Schurer added: "If there is one particular link that has more significance than any other it has to be the link between Edward III and his son John of Gaunt.

"John of Gaunt was the father of Henry IV, so if John of Gaunt was not actually the child of Edward III, arguably Henry IV had no legitimate right to the throne and therefore neither did Henry V, Henry VI and indirectly, the Tudors.

"Likewise if the break is in the part of Richard III, this would also ask questions about legitimacy of the claims of Richard and his brother Edward.

"However you are never going to get an answer without exhuming a dead person," he added. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

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