An Australian forklift driver who some historians argued was the true heir to the British throne has died in the small New South Wales town he called home, his local newspaper reported Thursday.
Mike Hastings, 71, was a real-life aristocrat, born the 14th earl of Loudoun, who moved to Australia in 1960 in search of adventure. He made international headlines in 2004 when a documentary team from Britain’s Channel Four conducted extensive research into the monarchy and concluded his ancestors were cheated out of the crown in the 15th century.
Hastings, an avowed republican, died on June 30 and was buried Thursday in Jerilderie, about 750 kilometres (465 miles) southwest of Sydney, the local Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser reported. Hastings was a descendant of England’s House of York, whose dynastic struggle with the House of Lancaster became known as the Wars of the Roses and was dramatised by William Shakespeare.
The British documentary’s historian Michael Jones found documents in France’s Rouen Cathedral that he believed showed King Edward IV, who ruled with a brief interruption from 1461 to 1483, was illegitimate. Jones believes that Edward’s father Richard of York was fighting the French at Pontoise when he was conceived, while his mother Cecily was 200 kilometres (125 miles) away at Rouen, allegedly in the amorous arms of an English archer. If true, the crown should have passed on to Edward’s younger brother George, the duke of Clarence, who was a direct ancestor to Hastings.
Hastings showed little interest in pursuing his claim to the monarchy when interviewed by AFP in 2005, citing the intense public scrutiny endured by the royals. However, he joked that his claim to the crown could prove lucrative if confirmed. His son Simon, who now becomes the 15th earl of Loudoun, also appears in no hurry to try to seize the throne.
Do you think Mike Hastings IS the true heir to the UK monarchy? If so, should his son make a rightful claim to it?
Image: The Huffington Post
Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for information about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve discovered so far.
Thanks for the info, appreciated it. it was so well formatted.
Wow,good website.i really appreciate your working style writing style of the article is really exceptional,I will add bookmark for this website and Introduce new friends to visit your website!
Hey there, You’ve done a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this website
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting.
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting.
Hey there, You’ve done a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this website
I went over this web site and I believe you have a lot of superb information, saved to bookmarks
Hey there, You’ve done a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this website
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting.
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting.
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting.
Hey there, You’ve done a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this website
I am learning how to make my blog this topical, good content, can find that your mind is very touched, i like your website very much.
I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting.
I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys.
I like your information. i am always looking for this type of interesting and good information.
That’s a good post.