Richard III relative dismisses image

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LEICESTER, England, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A relative of British monarch Richard III who gave DNA to help identify what may be the king's skeleton said he wants the ruler's legacy re-examined.

Michael Ibsen, 55, a Canadian man who gave a DNA sample to experts attempting to determine whether the skeleton found in September beneath a Leicester, England, parking lot belonged to Richard III, said he does not agree with the king's image as a ruthless, power-hungry hunchback, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.

Ibsen said he sides with historians who say much of the image of Richard, who was killed during his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, comes from Tudor propaganda designed to discredit the king and his family.

The Guardian reported Ibsen is a direct descendant of Ann of York, Richard's sister.

"I may be personally prejudiced, but if you prove to be related to a king, it would be nice to be related to a good one," Ibsen told the Telegraph..

Ibsen said he and his family were "surprised" when the bones were found.

"All of us thought, it's really interesting but a bit abstract. I do have my moments when I think this is extraordinary," he said. "But you also think, what if there's an interloper in the 17th century or someone who was adopted, then there will be no DNA connection."