In a twist that suggests The Tudors was more accurate than we thought, researchers say analysis of Richard III’s bones shows adultery broke the bloodline in the British royal family. According to research published in the journal Nature Communications, DNA testing provided “overwhelming evidence” that the skeleton found under a Leicester parking lot in 2012 belongs to the 15th-century king. His DNA was a perfect match for samples taken from a living maternal relative, but there was no match on his father’s side.
It’s unclear where the break occurred, but the finding means the entire Tudor dynasty, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, may be technically illegitimate. The current royals are also related to the Tudors, but study co-author Kevin Schurer said, “We are not in any way indicating that Her Majesty (Elizabeth II) shouldn’t be on the throne.” Not surprising, considering he’s studying the remains of a guy killed in a battle over royal succession.
