THE banner of King Richard III was paraded through York as his supporters and descendants demanded the return of his body for burial in the city.

Yesterday’s march was led by Vanessa Rae, who claims a direct descendency from the family of the “much-maligned monarch”.

Starting from the Castle Museum, about 100 people from all over Yorkshire paraded through the streets to Museum Gardens.

Miss Rae said the event was to celebrate Richard’s life in York and to demand he be laid to rest here.

“This is just the beginning,” she said. “We want it in the public eye. This is about fulfilling his final wishes. As decendants and supporters we are trying to fulfil those wishes.”

Lawrence Kirkpatrick, 64, of Wakefield, said: “He belongs here – the clue is in the name.”

Sandra Wadley, 69, of the Friends of Richard III, said: “I think he should come back to York because he was loved here. he has no connection with Leicester apart from that he died nearby. It’s not a case of finders keepers.”

Paula Connelly came over from Bridlington to march with her banner at the event.

She said: “This isn’t about tourism – it’s about the proper and dignified reaction to an annointed king and having a fitting memorial for a king who was much loved in York.

“He was Good King Richard in York.”

She said: “I have had an interest in this for more than 20 years. I think he was a much-maligned monarch.”

Campaigners have already announced they will go to court in their fight to have Richard III’s remains reburied in York.

Fifteen of his family’s relatives, calling themselves The Plantagenet Alliance, said they would launch a judicial review against the decisions leading to his remains being exhumed and potentially reinterred in Leicester.


Monarch’s tomb design unveiled

THE design of King Richard III’s final resting place in Leicester Cathedral has been unveiled by civic leaders in the city, despite a legal battle to bring his remains to Yorkshire.

The table tomb design was voted for by the people of Leicester, and will feature a white boar, carved white roses and the cross of St Cuthbert.

The Richard III Society revealed the design yesterday and said the Plantagenet king “must now be brought out of the darkness and obscurity of an unmarked grave, and brought into the light of honour in a tomb that befits both him as a man and his status as a medieval king.”

The Society said it will now work with Leicester Cathedral on the design and exact location of the tomb.