Digital Avatar of Richard III Unveiled

A digital avatar of King Richard III, featuring a Yorkshire accent, has been unveiled at York Theatre Royal, showcasing a voice recreation achieved through advanced technology. The project, which took over a decade, involved experts from various fields, including craniofacial identification, speech therapy, and archaeology, to accurately portray the voice of the medieval king. Richard III, who reigned from 1483 until his death in 1485, is known for his controversial legacy and was the last monarch of the Plantagenet dynasty. His remains were discovered in 2012 beneath a car park in Leicester by historian Philippa Langley, leading to extensive research into his life and identity. Vocal coach Yvonne Morley-Chisholm played a key role in the project, examining historical letters to determine how Richard may have sounded. The voice recreation highlights the diverse accents of British monarchs throughout history, contrasting with modern perceptions.