King Edward V of England did not have a chance to rule, as his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, declared him and his brother illegitimate and seized the throne as Richard III shortly after Edward V was proclaimed king in April 1483. The young king was housed in the Tower of London with his brother, Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, and their fate is uncertain, but they were most likely murdered on Richard III's orders.

The issue of Edward V's legitimacy was a major event during his uncle's reign, as it led to Richard III's seizure of the throne. The disappearance and probable murder of the two princes in the Tower also had a significant impact on the political and social climate of the time, as it raised questions about the morality of those in power and led to public outrage. It also contributed to the downfall of Richard III, as it undermined his legitimacy as king and led to his eventual defeat by Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

Some important historians who have written about him include:

• Sir Thomas More, who wrote "The History of King Richard III" which covers the short reign of Edward V and his deposition by his uncle, Richard III.
• Polydore Vergil, who wrote "Anglica Historia" in the early 16th century which covers the history of England up to the reign of Henry VII.
• Francis Bacon, who wrote "The History of the Reign of King Henry VII" in the late 16th century which covers the reign of Henry VII and the end of the Wars of the Roses, including the deposition of Edward V.
• Horace Walpole, who wrote "The History of the Reign of King Richard III" in the 18th century which covers the reign of Richard III and the deposition of Edward V.

Some modern historians who have written important histories of Edward V include:

• Paul Murray Kendall, who wrote "Richard the Third" in 1955, which is considered one of the most important modern biographies of Richard III and covers the deposition of Edward V in detail.
• Charles Ross, who wrote "Richard III" in 1981, which is a biography of Richard III and covers the deposition of Edward V in detail.
• Michael Hicks, who wrote "Edward V: The Prince in the Tower" in 2003, which is a biography of Edward V and covers his short reign and the events leading up to his deposition.
• Thomas Penn, who wrote "Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England" in 2011, which covers the end of the Wars of the Roses, including the deposition of Edward V and the rise of Henry VII.

The fate of Edward V, who was King of England from April to June 1483, is not known for certain. It is generally believed that he, along with his younger brother Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, were murdered while in the custody of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who later became King Richard III.

There are several theories about the fate of the two princes, including that they were suffocated in the Tower of London, or that they were killed by hired assassins. However, there is no concrete evidence to support any of these theories, and the exact details of their deaths remain a mystery.

In the 16th century, the Tudor King Henry VII ordered an investigation into the death of the two princes, but the results of the inquiry were never made public, and the bones of two children were found in the Tower of London in the 16th century, but they were not conclusively identified as those of Edward V and his brother.

In recent years, some experts have suggested that the bones could be tested with DNA to determine if they are the remains of the two princes, but so far this has not been done.

The fate of Edward V and his brother remains a mystery and a subject of historical debate.