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Richard lll 'had some backbone' say scientists

RICHARD lll was not the "bunch-backed toad" described by Shakespeare and was hardly affected by his famous deformity, a study has shown.

Scientists who carried out scans of the king's kinked spine found it had a "well balanced curve" that could have been concealed under clothes or armour.

Unlike the hunchback depictions seen on stage and screen, his head and neck would have been straight, not tilted to one side, and there was also no evidence that he had a limp.

The findings are supported by accounts written when Richard iii was alive describing him as being "comely enough" and even "handsome".

Scientists carried out a 3d reconstruction of the king's spine which showed 65 to 85 degrees of "scoliosis", or sideways bending, to the right. it was also twisted into a "spiral" shape.

But despite having one shoulder slightly higher than the other and a short trunk in comparison with his arms and legs, the defects would not have handicapped him too much. Dr Phil Stone, chairman of the Richard iii Society, said: "examination of Richard iii's remains shows that he had a scoliosis, thus confirming that the Shakespearean description of a 'bunch-backed toad' is a complete fabrication - yet more proof that, while the plays are splendid dramas, they are also most certainly fiction not fact.

"History tells us that Richard iii was a great warrior. Clearly, he was little inconvenienced by his spinal problem and accounts of his appearance, written when he was alive, tell that he was 'of person and bodily shape comely enough' and that he 'was the most handsome man in the room after his brother, Edward iV'."