LONDON: British archaeologists announced on Wednesday that a skeleton found under a city center car park in central England could be that of the medieval King Richard III.
Researchers from the University of Leicester said they had found a male skeleton with similarities to historical descriptions of Richard, who ruled England between 1483 and his death in battle in 1485.
The remains, which are well preserved, are undergoing DNA analysis.
“What we have uncovered is truly remarkable,” said Richard Taylor, the university’s director of corporate affairs.
“This skeleton certainly has characteristics that warrant extensive further detailed examination,” he told a press conference.
The team, which has been excavating a car park in the city of Leicester for three weeks, said the skeleton had an arrow-head embedded in its back and had received blows to the skull consistent with injuries received in battle.
Today, Richard III is best known as the hunchbacked villain of a play by William Shakespeare — and while the skeleton is not that of a hunchback, it does have a curved spine.
“This would have made his right shoulder appear visibly higher than the left shoulder,” said Taylor.
“This is consistent with contemporary accounts of Richard’s appearance.”
The bones were found in what was once the choir area of a church believed to be the king’s resting place, which the archaeologists have uncovered beneath the car park.
Richard is thought to have been buried at the Franciscan friary of Grey Friars in Leicester after his death in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, but the church was demolished in the 1530s and its location had been lost until now.
The team used ground-penetrating radar equipment to pinpoint the best areas of the car park to begin the search.
Taylor said the team will use DNA from a man who is a direct descendant of Richard’s eldest sister, Anne of York, to try to get a match. The process is expected to take up to 12 weeks.
“We have sent the remains off to the laboratory for analysis. DNA testing will take between eight and 12 weeks and the remains are being analyzed as we speak,” said Taylor.
“It is an exciting discovery.”
Bones found at English car park may belong to medieval king
Bones found at English car park may belong to medieval king
Saudi label KML unveils new collection in Paris
DUBAI: Siblings Razan and Ahmed Hassan presented their Fall/Winter 2026–2027 collection at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, continuing the rapid rise of their KML label.
The duo has gained international recognition since launching the brand in 2022, most recently being named semifinalists for the LVMH Prize — a prestigious annual award for emerging designers.
Creative director Ahmed’s minimalist designs and sharp tailoring mean KML — owned by his sister, Razan — has built its identity around reimagining traditional Saudi garments through a contemporary lens. Jackets are paired with shawl-like elements, large leather belts recall those historically worn by Bedouin men, and skirts nod to silhouettes once worn by men in the Eastern Province, Jazan and the Hijaz.
The approach is reflected in the new collection, which features a restrained palette of black, white and muted earth tones, leaning on wrap constructions, asymmetry and elongated proportions.
Flowing skirts, structured wrap tops and robe-like coats dominate the lineup, with some looks referencing classical draping while others lean toward utilitarian dressing, defined by sharp shoulders, cinched waists and clean, architectural lines.
In a previous interview with Arab News, Ahmed said their grandmother was a huge influence on their lives as he and his sister grew up in Riyadh. He fondly recalled both her progressive nature and inimitable style. As a young boy, Ahmed would often accompany her to fabric shops so she could get her designs stitched by a local tailor. The experience left an impression, though fashion was not an obvious initial career path.
Ahmed studied architecture and became an intern at Zaha Hadid Architects, where he developed an appreciation for structure and form. Razan, meanwhile, pursued law at Prince Sultan University and she went on to practice full-time.
“One summer, we both realized we weren’t doing what we truly wanted to do, so I decided to go to the UK to study creative writing, and Ahmed went to Central Saint Martins (in London) for a few courses,” Razan explained.
That was the catalyst for KML. In August 2023, they launched their debut capsule collection and towards the end of that year they applied to the Saudi 100 Brands program. The Fashion Commission recognized their potential, helping KML launch collections at fashion weeks in Paris, Riyadh and Milan.
