By Nick Britten and Andrew Hough 3:15PM GMT 04 Feb 2013

King Richard III, the last English king to die in battle, will be re-interred in a major ceremony at Leicester Cathedral after DNA tests confirmed his skeleton has been found under a council car park in the city.

A 500-year-old mystery reached its conclusion today amid great fanfare, with experts heralding one of the most important archaeological finds in recent years.

The skeletal remains believed to be those of the King, who died in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 but had been missing ever since, were uncovered last September in the remains of the Grey Friars Church, in Leicester, over which had been built a social services car park.

DNA tests showed a direct match to two distant relatives of the monarch, while studies of the skeleton showed 10 battle-related injuries and also King Richard’s famous curved spine.

Added to the fact that historical texts put him laid to rest in the church, that the skeleton’s height and adjudged age at death matched, Leicester University said it was beyond any reasonable doubt that the skeleton was that of the last Plantagenet king.

^{The skull and the complete spine of king Richard III (University of Leicester/AFP/Getty Images)}

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David Monteith, Leicester Cathedral Canon Chancellor, said the remains would be re-interred early next year in a Christian-led but ecumenical service. He said that because it would have been “unheard of” for the King not to have received a formal burial at the time, he could not be buried again and so it would be a service of remembrance.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment as to whether a member of the Royal Family would attend.

A row had broken out previously over where the skeleton should be interred. There had been calls for the remains to go to Westminster Abbey, where the majority of medieval kings are buried, or York Minster, as some historians claim that is where the King stated he wished to be interred.

However, there is no will or other documentation to provide guidance, and the Ministry of Justice license to allow the original excavation states that the legal partners, Leicester City Council and Leicester University, can choose the site.

Philip Stone, Chairman of the Richard III Society, said he had received communications from people wanting the body to buried elsewhere, but said Leicester was the natural choice.

^{The lower jaw of king Richard III with a cut mark caused by a knife or dagger (University of Leicester/AFP/Getty Images)}

The Society of Friends of Richard III Society, who had previously called for the body to be buried in York, also said they were happy for him to be interred in Leicester. Sandra Wadley, secretary, said: “We thought it was worth putting a try in for York, but it was always an optimistic shout. As long as he receives a proper interment, Leicester is fine by us.”

Richard Taylor, Leicester University’s deputy registrar said confirmation of the find was “truly astonishing”. He said: “Today we bear witness to history and peer 500 years into medieval times, and literally reach into a grave.”

Experts pointed to a “wealth of evidence” to support the claims, including radiocardbon dating, radiological evidence, DNA and bone analysis and archaeological results.

They included that the individual was likely to have been killed by one of two fatal blows to the skull, one from a sword and one from a halberd, a type of axe. One of the blows sliced part of his skull off. His injuries showed he was stabbed through the buttock as an act of humiliation, probably as he was strapped dead and naked to a horse to carry him from the battlefield.

^{The remains of King Richard III found buried deep beneath a Leicester car park (University of Leicester / Rex Features)}

Tests revealed the individual had a high protein diet, including significant amounts of seafood, meaning he was probably of high status, and that he died in the late 15th or early 16th Century, consistent with his death in 1485.

The way his skeleton lay was also vital, as it appeared that he was naked and had his hand tied in front of him, rather than being left to lie by his side as was normal in those days.

Historical description of King Richard as a hunchback were supported by tests which said that although he was 5ft 8in tall, he would have stood “significantly shorter”, which his right shoulder higher than his left.

There was “no evidence” of a withered arm, as was regularly portrayed in Shakespeare’s writings.

^{A depiction of Richard III – on the white horse – at the Battle of Bosworth Credit: ALAMY}

Richard Buckley, Leicester University’s archeologists co-director, said was an “honour and privilege” to work on a project “that has had such phenomenal global interest”. He added: “Rarely have the conclusions of academic research been so eagerly awaited.”

He added that the remains came close to be destroyed forever in the 19th Century, when a toilet was built directly above the site. The foundations missed the skeleton by inches.

Dr Buckley had previously sought to downplay his chances of success, saying he would "eat his hat" if the King was discovered.

He said today: "One of my colleagues made me some hat-shaped cakes. I've eaten one of those."

And the excavation project almost ground to a halt before they even found the body after a major funder pulled out. Philippa Langley, of the Richard III society, who originated the search, said a worldwide search for donations eventually meant the dig could get underway.

^{Archaeologists searching under the city centre car park for the lost grave of King Richard III have discovered human remains (PA)}

Michael Ibsen, 55, a 17th generation distant relative whose DNA matched Anne of York, Richard III’s sister, said he felt “thrilled, stunned and downright weird”.

Richard III demise ended the Plantagenet dynasty and inspired one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. With opinion split over his character – some say misunderstood and a man who ushered in new freedoms, others claim an evil murderer who killed his two nephews in the Tower of London – rarely has a monarch divided opinion so fiercely.