Queen Elizabeth keeps an MP hostage to fulfill one of the most bizarre British Royal traditions before presenting herself at the parliament. This early tradition commenced far back as the 17th century under the rule of King Charles I.
The Strange Hostage Rule
Although the royal family is an institution that survives on set-down guidelines and customs, the hostage rule involving the Queen and her MPs is arguably the most strange one. According to Joe Little, a royal expert, the custom was initiated in the 17th century as a surety for the safe return of royals.
Queen Elizabeth II Holds An MP Hostage Before Appearing At Parliament
He said that “The now ceremonial tradition dates back to the 17th century and the reign of King Charles I, whose fractious relationship with Parliament ultimately led to his beheading.” In 1629, King Charles I had prevented Parliament from sitting by shutting the chambers’ doors for eleven solid years in a time which was known as the ‘Eleven years Tyranny.’
After the Parliament successfully resumed its sitting, King Charles I arrived in the House of Commons to try and arrest five MPs. Nevertheless, his plot was foiled after he was convicted for the charges of treason and then beheaded.
Since then, the monarch has declined to appear at the Houses of Parliament if an MP has not been taken as a hostage for their surety. “The ‘hostage’ MP, usually the Vice-Chamberlain of the Royal Household, is required to be at Buckingham Palace from the time of the Queen’s departure until her return, at which point he is ‘released,” Joe added.
Former Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick, who was asked to be the hostage MP in 2014 revealed in an interview that although he wasn’t put in a cell, he was notified that he couldn’t leave. He said “I could do absolutely anything I wanted in Buckingham Palace, I could wander around, I could have a gin and tonic… They didn’t actually lock me up but they made it clear I wasn’t going anywhere.”
