Scientists confirm that skeleton found under parking lot is England's King Richard III

Undated photo made available by the University of Leicester, England, Monday Feb. 4 2013 of the skull found at the Grey Friars excavation in Leicester, potentially the long lost remains of England's King Richard III, ahead of an announcement about the identity of the skeleton found underneath a car park last September. Richard was immortalized in a play by Shakespeare as a hunchbacked usurper who left a trail of bodies — including those of his two young nephews, murdered in the Tower of London — on his way to the throne. (AP Photo/ University of Leicester) (The Associated Press)

LEICESTER, England – Scientists say they have found the 500-year-old remains of England's King Richard III under a parking lot in the city of Leicester.

University of Leicester researchers say tests on a battle-scarred skeleton unearthed last year prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that it is the king, who died at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, and whose remains have been missing for centuries.

"Richard III, the last Plantaganet King of England," has been found," said the university's deputy registrar, Richard Taylor.

Osteologist Jo Appleby said Monday that study of the bones provided "a highly convincing case for identification of Richard III."

And DNA from the skeleton matches a sample taken from a distant living relative of Richard's sister.

The last English monarch to die in battle, Richard was depicted in a play by William Shakespeare as a hunchbacked usurper who left a trail of bodies — including those of his two princely nephews, murdered in the Tower of London — on his way to the throne.

Many historians say that villainous image is unfair, and argue Richard's reputation was smeared by his Tudor successors.

The mayor of Leicester, Peter Soulsby, said the monarch would be interred in the city's cathedral, 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of London.