The inspiration for The King’s Intelligencer grew from my research for The Godmother’s Secret, which explored the enduring mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, vanished in 1483, with many attributing their deaths to their uncle, Richard III. During my research, I found myself captivated by this historical enigma, particularly when I visited Westminster Abbey and stood before Sir Christopher Wren’s beautiful marble urn in the Chapel of the Innocents. Installed in 1678 at the command of King Charles II, it allegedly contains the bones of two children found during his reign. He was convinced these were the missing princes, who were said to have been murdered and secretly buried in the Tower.
Standing before the urn, I pondered the proximity of Sir Allen and Frances Apsley’s graves—real-life ancestors of my protagonist Franny Apsley and confidantes of King Charles. The closeness of their tombs sparked my imagination about the authenticity of the princes’ remains. Could the bones in the urn truly belong to Edward V and Richard? Or did the 1674 discovery serve a political purpose for King Charles II during a time of religious and political upheaval?
As I dug deeper, historical scholarship such as Helen Maurer’s and Annette Carson’s research cast doubt on the identification of the remains. Their work suggested the bones might have been used as a tool to legitimize Charles II’s reign by reinforcing his image as a restorer of justice.
Exploring this climate of political manoeuvring, I unearthed family connections to espionage during the English Civil War and subsequent Restoration of King Charles. Franny’s parents, Sir Allen and Frances Apsley, and her cousin, Nan Wilmot, Countess of Rochester, were involved in covert activities. Franny’s brother, Peter, appeared as a spy in household accounts. These historical ties provided the perfect backdrop for Franny’s journey into 17th-century intrigue. In The King’s Intelligencer, I weave together the mystery of the princes with espionage and political machinations to offer a fresh perspective on a centuries-old mystery. Available on Amazon
Interesting . . .