Would love to have UK posters respond, but happy to hear from anyone.
As far as I can tell, the last time the skeletons that were buried as the princes were disinterred for examination was in 1933, and there was no knowledge of DNA then.
I always wondered if there would be another disinterment in the light of DNA, but as it never happened, I assumed it was because at least one other body would need to be disinterred as well-- Edward IV, probably for a Y-chromosome match.
But when Richard III’s skeleton was discovered under the parking lot, I thought maybe this would be an opportunity to disinter the supposed princes and compare them to a relative who would share their Y-chromosome, and not have to disinter anyone else, because Richard was already on the exam table.
Identifying the skeletons as male children of the York line would pretty much identify them as the princes-- especially if they had an avuncular relationship to Richard III-- because no other children are missing.
Aside from clearing up that point, though, it might be possible to settle the question of who was responsible for their deaths by determining how old they were when they died. If they appeared to be 9 & 12, then they died before Henry Tudor was in England, and he is very doubtfully involved. But if they died at 11 & 14, it is unlikely Richard III was the instigator-- if they were older than that, it is impossible Richard was involved.
I know it is difficult to pinpoint a skeleton’s exact age, but they have two of them, so between them, one can more easily arrive at a year.
I also realize there are other skeletons in contention for the title, and the spot in Westminster, but they could be tested if the Y-chromosomes on the first two failed to match.
Is there some reason that the UK government chooses to remain in epistemic inconclusion about this? Because one of its former kings is likely to have been involved, and it is better not to know which? some other reason? Is having a “tomb of the unknown prince” desirable, because other royals are missing, albeit mostly before the conqueror?
Thinking about this now because Audible recently had for sale a “Complete Alan Grant” for a single credit and I bought it. I’ve read all the books, but it’s nice to hear them once more, especially since I was in high school when I read them. Just finished listening to The Daughter of Time.
Now listening to The Singing Sands. Wondering if that one may have been inspired by the Somerton Man-- that decades-old unsolved mystery was actually solved a couple of years ago.