2-651-960 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'Gloucester goes into mourning for this little Nephews', c1860, (c1860). A caricature of Richard, Duke of Gloucester (1452-1485) who later ascended the throne as Richard III. Edward V (1470-c1483) and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York (1473-Unknown presumed c1483) were two brothers who are frequently known as 'The Princes in the Tower' and were the only sons of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville surviving at the time of their father's death in 1483. When they were 12 and 9 years old, respectively, they were lodged in the Tower of London by the man appointed to look after them, their uncle, the Lord Protector: Richard, Duke of Gloucester. This was supposedly in preparation for Edward's forthcoming coronation as king. However, Richard took the throne for himself and the boys disappeared. From The Comic History of England, Volume I, by Gilbert A A'Beckett [Bradbury, Agnew, & Co., London, ]