‘Remember Richard III was human being’ says Bosworth re-enactment organiser

“The argument gets people very heated but it’s not one I am in a position to comment on,” he said.

“But we have to remember that we are talking about somebody. I hope wherever he is buried they treat him with respect.”

Mackinder said a minute’s silence is held before the Battle of Bosworth re-enactment, “to commemorate not only Richard but the 1,000 people who lost their lives in battle.

“And we try our upmost to remind people that although they will have a lovely, fun day, we are talking about a battle in which people – mostly the lower classes – lost their lives. We should remember that.”

Mackinder added: “It would be nice, for want of a better word, if Richard stayed within the county because people coming to understand the events can do so in one day, but we will continue to attract people because this is the site of the battle.”

Mackinder said organisers had sold almost 1,500 advance tickets for the re-enactment, which takes place this weekend.

The two-day event, which is set to attract up to 8,000 spectators, will also be attended by guest speakers Dr Glenn Foard & Prof Anne Curry.

Foard and Curry are the joint authors of a new book on the research project looking at the site of the Battle of Bosworth.