A digital avatar of King Richard III, complete with a Yorkshire accent, has been unveiled at York Theatre Royal, thrilling history enthusiasts.
This project, which took a decade to complete, involved experts from various fields, including linguistics, craniofacial reconstruction, and forensic psychology.
Richard III, who ruled England from 1483 until his death in 1485, was born in Northampton but spent much of his life in Yorkshire. His remains were discovered in a Leicester car park in 2012 by historian Philippa Langley.
The avatar was created by Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University, using a reconstruction of the king's head.
Professor David Crystal, a specialist in 15th-century pronunciation, crafted the king's voice, acknowledging that while it's impossible to know exactly how he spoke, this recreation is the closest approximation.
Vocal coach Yvonne Morley-Chisholm and actor Thomas Dennis also contributed, ensuring the voice matched historical documents and the king's physical appearance.
The recreation highlights the evolution of pronunciation over centuries, from regional accents to modern English.
Attendees at the unveiling were impressed by the accuracy and the king's distinctive northern accent.
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