Even where historical or scientific curiosity is involved. There are some old graves, like Shakespeare's and the "boys in the tower" which have remained inviolate, despite interest in them by modern historians. However, these graves were not even recognized as graves, they were dug up by farmers. In a way, the archeologists are restoring ancient graves.
> However, these graves were not even recognized as graves... <
Ah, good point.
Quibble — The so-called boys in the tower were forensically examined in 1933. Much more recent scrutiny of the information gathered at that time shows that they probably aren’t the remains of the princes, not least because they are likely to be at least a few hundred years older. :^)
Richard III’s mtDNA has been sequenced (that’s what led to the ID of the remains of that king), and there has been growing interest in obtaining mtDNA samples from the alleged remains of the princes. Probably won’t happen, not least because it could (I’d say would) mictorate in the punchbowl.
If they do check them, I’ve got a request for a couple of additional royals’ DNA.
By and large, even the royal sarcos have been opened, and not just in Britain.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/death-and-memory/anglo-saxon-ship-burial-sutton-hoo
https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/the-opening-of-the-tomb-of-king-edward-i-in-westminster-abbey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjFzHXj_U3k
https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2015/01/opening-the-coffin-of-king-charles-i.html