Historic England has slapped a preservation order – of sorts – onto the Leicester car park under which were found the mortal remains of Richard of York, the Third king of that name and last Plantagenet to rule the realm.

We must thank Scots screenwriter and historian Philippa Langley and Richard III Society for marking the spot with an X. Indeed, that he was found and the manner of the finding is a gLorious tale and one to which we shall doubtless return.

What re-enters my mutterings list, having heard the news this morning, is that of the place of his burial.

Goodness knows his Sixteenth century press painted him in the very blackest of colours and it does seem as though he were further blighted with a misshapen spine. But he was a king, a Plantagenet, from York. Why was he not returned there?

Ptolemy slid Alexander into a cask of honey and brought him back from Persia to – OK, Egypt when it ought to have been Macedonia if we’re going to be picky; … rather than go on ad nauseam the point it seems important to make is fallen heroes ought not be lost to their people.

Added to which, it means we must find one alternate and one further colour of the rainbow so as to enrich the mnemonic: Richard of York got buried in vong place.

Think of the cruel confusion we’ll inflict on children learning the colours of the rainbow if this travesty goes unchallenged.