6. It Has Never Been Conclusively Proven That He Killed The Princes In The Tower
Okay so this is one area where King Richard III cannot fully be absolved of blame - although it has never actually been proven that he orchestrated the murders of the so-called "Princes In The Tower". The Princes In The Tower - or brothers King Edward V and Richard Duke of York - were believed to have been murdered in one of the most-notorious royal scandals in British history. Following Edward IVs death, Lord Protector Richard, Duke of Gloucester (latterly Richard III), had been appointed to watch over the brothers - but for whatever reason instead he decided to lock them in the Tower of London. Edward V was 12 and Richard Duke of York just nine when they were imprisoned - supposedly to protect the former until he was ready to assume the throne - but Richard III instead stole power. Myth and legend still surround exactly what happened to the boys, although it is known they disappeared around 1483 - when the murders are believed to have taken place - and their bodies were not found until workmen dug up a wooden box containing two skeletons in 1674. Although King Richard III is a possible murder candidate, several other suspects exist - and it has never been proven who committed the acts. Other suspects include Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (Richard IIIs right-hand man); King Henry VII (who executed many rival claimants to the throne when he seized power in 1485); Margaret Beaufort, Henry VIIs mother (for the supposed same reason as him); and Jane Shore (King Edward IVs mistress). It will almost certainly never be proven who killed the boys, and it will remain one of the great scandals and tragedies in the history of the British monarchy - so should it really tarnish King Richard III's reputation when it isn't even know if he committed the murders?