132. Dead Kings Road Trip, part two
Deceased kings and queens ought to rest in peace, but some English monarchs have had remarkable post mortem adventures. In the second of a three-part series, LISA GLEDHILL visits their tombs and digs up some surprising stories.
If you want to pay your respects to as many of our former rulers as possible but don’t have much time, then Westminster Abbey is the place to go. Sixteen English monarchs are interred there alongside many consorts, children and a Queen of Scotland. The church was founded by Edward the Confessor and he was buried there just eight days after it was consecrated. Edward’s tomb became a pilgrimage site and later, after some healing miracles and a bit of political wrangling between the English monarchy and the Pope, he was declared a saint. His talent for miraculous healing began during his lifetime when he started the tradition of using the magical royal touch to cure scrofula, but he was also known as an astute and sometimes ruthless political operator. His accession was also suspiciously fortunate, following his 24-year-old half-brother King Harthacnut’s very sudden and convenient death
