530 years after his death, King Richard III reburial procession attracts thousands

 By 
Yohana Desta
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Better late than never.

King Richard III, the last king of England from the House of York, is finally getting a proper burial -- 530 years after his death. Thousands of people reportedly lined the streets of Leicester, England, to watch his unique reburial procession on Sunday.

In 1485, Richard III died in battle, and was hurriedly buried in the foundations of an old friary in Leicester. His skeleton was finally discovered in 2012 underneath a parking lot.

Sunday's procession was a traditional event, featuring a round of live cannons, men on horseback and numerous priests. However, it also received thoroughly modern treatment, with a live play-by-play on Twitter. Richard III's casket will stay in Leicester Cathedral for public viewing until Thursday, when he will be reinterred during a service that is expected to attract members of England's royal family, The Guardian reported.

Check out images from the reburial, below:

Crowds at St Nicholas Circle pic.twitter.com/cN7Olfwsnw— King Richard III (@KRIIILeicester) March 22, 2015

The view from the Haymarket balcony, getting ready for Richard! #richardreburied beautiful view! pic.twitter.com/IXJ7nfyFA9— name cannot be blank (@friendshiptree3) March 22, 2015

Our horses in silhouette #richardreburied pic.twitter.com/2tBUpt4JW6— King Richard III (@KRIIILeicester) March 22, 2015

Schoolchildren line up waiting to process to St Nicholas Church #richardreburied pic.twitter.com/61lz2wv8Ri— King Richard III (@KRIIILeicester) March 22, 2015

Ceremony at Bow Bridge under way #richardreburied pic.twitter.com/PK7KLvW3nQ— Paul Hindle (@HindlePaul) March 22, 2015

What a historic day. Proud to live in Leicestershire #richardreburied @KRIIILeicester @BBCLeicester @LLEPnews pic.twitter.com/7ydU5DhQWu— Sharon Redrobe (@Spr1969) March 22, 2015

The congregation all keen to take home a picture #richardreburied pic.twitter.com/QbZSHfhJrG— King Richard III (@KRIIILeicester) March 22, 2015

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