It 's been a long journey for Richard III , the 15th century king whose skeleton was found under a parking lot in the English city of Leicester . But on Friday , his final destination became clear . The medieval monarch will be reburied in Leicester Cathedral , just a stone 's throw away from where his remains were uncovered . The discovery of his remains , complete with curved spine and staved-in skull , in the summer of 2012 sparked global headlines and a new battle -- over which city would host his remains in perpetuity . Archaeologists had been searching the site for Leicester 's long-lost Greyfriars Friaryhad and always planned for any bodies they uncovered to be reburied at the city 's cathedral . That was challenged in the courts by a group calling itself the Plantagenet Alliance , which argued it was the medieval king 's wish to be buried in the historic northern city of York -- the city they claim was closest to his heart . But judges at the Royal Courts of Justice ruled Friday that his funeral should be held in Leicester as originally planned . Their ruling notes that since Richard 's exhumation , `` passions have been roused and much ink has been spilt '' as rival camps fought to stake their claim . Now , they say , `` We agree that it is time for Richard III to be given a dignified reburial , and finally laid to rest . '' The University of Leicester , which was behind the excavation project , celebrated the outcome on Twitter . `` Richard III will be reinterred in Leicester . Great news for the University , our city and everybody involved in the discovery , '' it said . 'Horrific death ' In bringing its case , the Alliance objected to the lack of consultation over where the newly-rediscovered monarch 's bones should be laid to rest , saying more thought should have been given to the question . On its website , the Alliance -- made up of people who claim to be distantly related to Richard III , and headed by Stephen Nicolay , his 16th great nephew -- set out its argument to have him reburied in York . `` We believe that the proposed location of Leicester is wholly inappropriate for the burial of King Richard III , who had no connections with the town beyond his horrific death , bodily despoliation and appalling burial in a foreshortened grave , '' it said . `` As people who have died in a foreign place are 'brought home , ' so too King Richard should be brought to a place with which he had every possible connection and affection . '' Richard III lost his life in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 -- the last king of England to die on the battlefield and the last monarch from the House of York . Until his remains were found , the monarch was best known to modern Britons as the hunchbacked Shakespearean villain accused of murdering his nephews , the `` Princes in the Tower , '' to usurp the throne . That notorious history may make the battle over his reburial site appear all the more unlikely . But both sides insisted they have a strong claim to his remains . Now Leicester could see a significant commercial benefit , if tourists flock to see his final resting place . The city already has plans for a new tomb in the cathedral , where a memorial stone has long paid tribute to the last Plantagenet king , and for a visitor center on the site of the Greyfriars car park , telling the story of Richard 's life , his death , and his rediscovery . In a statement , Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said : `` I am delighted that Leicester Cathedral can now proceed with its plans to give King Richard lll a dignified reburial here in the city . `` With the support of the city council and the University of Leicester , the cathedral is now planning for the king 's reinterment to take place in the spring of next year . '' Read more : Richard III had worms , scientists say . Read more : New coffin mystery at Richard III site .
The Royal Courts of Justice rules that Richard III should be reburied in Leicester . The king 's remains were discovered in summer 2012 under a parking lot . The archeologists who disinterred the remains intended a reburial in Leicester Cathedral . A legal challenge was brought by a group which said he should be reburied in York .