British Royals

Royal Windsor Horse Show to carry on as scheduled despite trooper’s tragic death

The Royal Windsor Horse Show will continue as planned following the death of a soldier who fell from a horse after a display on Friday evening. Organisers confirmed the four-day event would go ahead “as per the published timetable”, although the scheduled performance by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery has been cancelled. The serviceman died after falling from his horse at around…
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British Royals

Prince Edward takes centre stage at historic Scottish Parliament tradition

The Duke of Edinburgh joined Scotland’s newly elected MSPs at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on Wednesday for the traditional Royal Kirking of Parliament. Prince Edward attended the centuries-old ceremony marking the beginning of a new parliamentary session following last week’s Scottish Parliament election. The service, held in the historic cathedral on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile…
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British Royals

MP reveals what it is really like being ‘held hostage’ by The King at Buckingham Palace

A Labour MP has spoken about his experience of being ceremonially “held hostage” by The King during the State Opening of Parliament. Sir Nic Dakin, the MP for Scunthorpe, spent Wednesday morning at Buckingham Palace as part of a centuries-old royal tradition dating back to the reign of Charles I. The unusual custom sees a government whip kept at the Palace while the monarch travels to…
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Features

‘We would have just shot you’: The grim warning given to The King's hostage

One of the strangest traditions of the State Opening of Parliament sees an MP ceremonially “held hostage” at Buckingham Palace while the monarch travels to Westminster. The ancient custom, which dates back to the reign of Charles I and the English Civil War, is intended to guarantee the Sovereign’s safe return from the Palace of Westminster after delivering the King’s Speech. But…
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