The completed stone tomb of Richard III is to go on public display after being lowered into position overnight - 530 years after his death in battle . A special service marking the end of the king 's journey from his forgotten grave under a council car park to a place of honour in Leicester Cathedral is being held today . The 2.3-ton tombstone , with its Christian cross carved on the top , was lifted carefully into place overnight , sealing the king beneath . Scroll down for video . Final resting place : The completed stone tomb ( pictured ) of Richard III is to go on public display after being lowered in to position . A special 'service or reveal ' marking the end of the king 's journey to the cathedral will take place today . The 2.3-ton tombstone , which features a Christian cross carved on the top , was lifted into place overnight at Leicester Cathedral . The setting of the great slab of Yorkshire Swaledale stone marks the end of a week in which the king was reinterred in a ceremony that included a poetry reading by actor Benedict Cumberbatch . The Queen called yesterday 's service a moment of 'great national significance ' . Organisers aimed to rebury the king with the 'dignity and honour ' he was denied in death , after his original burial in a hastily-dug grave in the old Greyfriars church following his death at Bosworth field . The cathedral said it was expecting ' a considerable number of visitors from all over the world ' to come and see the king 's completed memorial . The king was reinterred in a ceremony at Leicester Cathedral yesterday in a service described by The Queen as a moment of 'great national significance ' Actor Benedict Cumberbatch ( pictured ) , Downton Abbey creator and writer Julian Fellowes attended the service , alongside the Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Glouceste . Today 's 'service or reveal ' will include interpretative dance charting the rediscovery of Richard 's grave , the science behind identifying his remains and his reburial . A banner with the king 's coat of arms , provided by the Richard III Society , will also be hung over the tomb in the ambulatory during the service . Liz Hudson , the cathedral 's communications director , said : 'King Richard III 's tomb is now a permanent feature in Leicester Cathedral . Archaeologists discovered the king under a council car park not far from the cathedral in August 2012 . 'However , there are still a considerable number of visitors from all over the world in Leicester who we expect will want to take a last opportunity to see it before returning home . 'We anticipate a great deal of interest and suggest that people who live locally may find it easier to plan a visit to see the tomb at a slightly later date . ' Last Sunday , more than 35,000 lined the streets for a procession of the king 's coffin from the University of Leicester , whose archaeologists discovered his grave , to Bosworth and finally on to Leicester . Throughout the week , thousands waited in line for hours to see Richard 's coffin as it lay in repose in the cathedral , before yesterday 's reinterment presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury , Justin Welby . Actor Benedict Cumberbatch , Downton Abbey creator and writer Julian Fellowes and historical novelist Philippa Gregory attended the service , alongside the Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester . Archaeologists discovered the king under a council car park not far from the cathedral in August 2012 , after a campaign to find him led by Philippa Langley . An extensive series of scientific tests established that the skeleton , found in a grave too short for his body , was that of the last Yorkist king . His final rest was delayed by months after distant relatives brought an unsuccessful legal challenge through the courts , arguing he should be reburied in York .
The completed stone tomb of Richard III was lifted into position overnight . Service marking end of the king 's journey to the cathedral being held yesterday . Actor Benedict Cumberbatch attended a reinterment ceremony today . The 2.3-ton tombstone will now go on public display at the cathedral .