MP 'abandoned' by colleagues at palace: 'No manacles, no torturing' says royal hostage

An MP has detailed his unique experience of being "held hostage" by the King, describing how he was "abandoned" by his colleagues at Buckingham Palace during the State Opening of Parliament. Sir Nic Dakin, the Labour MP for Scunthorpe, took on the role of the ceremonial hostage, a tradition rooted in centuries of royal and political tension.

However, the MP, who holds the formal title of Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, confirmed his detention was far from a harrowing ordeal. He explained that he was, in fact, "pleasantly looked after" during his time at the palace.

A pleasant detention with tea and biscuits

While King Charles III travelled to the Palace of Westminster to deliver his speech, Sir Nic remained behind under the watchful eye of palace staff. He quipped about the dramatic-sounding arrangement, assuring there was no real danger involved.

"No manacles, no torturing. I was just abandoned by my colleagues and left in the arms of the palace staff and the Lord Chamberlain, who sits in the House of Lords, to ensure I didn't go anywhere," he said. Instead of a cold cell, the MP spent his time watching the parliamentary address on television, enjoying what he described as "a cup of tea and small shortbread biscuits".

In a conversation with BBC Radio Humberside, Sir Nic noted that the refreshments on offer had been "modernised" over the years. He shared a tale of a less sober past, saying: "A few years back, the drink that followed was rather stronger and one of my predecessors was rather wobbly on their legs as they left."

A tradition rooted in a bloody past

The practice of taking a parliamentary hostage is not merely for show; it is a powerful symbol with a dark history. The tradition began during the turbulent reign of King Charles I in the 17th Century. The monarch's relationship with Parliament was so hostile that it eventually collapsed, leading to the English Civil War and his own execution in 1649.

According to the UK Parliament's website, the custom serves as "a reminder of the violence and intrigue historically surrounding relationships between the Commons and the Crown." It was established as a solemn guarantee for the safe return of the sovereign from what was once considered a potentially hostile assembly of politicians. 

This is just one of many ancient rituals that take place on the day. Others include the searching of the cellars of the Palace of Westminster by the Yeomen of the Guard for explosives, a practice that began after the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Modern humour meets ancient pageantry

In the modern era, the tradition is viewed with more amusement than fear. The King himself has acknowledged the peculiarity of the custom. During a speech to the US Congress last month, King Charles made a light-hearted reference to his parliamentary "guest".

"These days we look after our guests rather well, to the point that they often do not want to leave," the King said, drawing laughter from the American politicians. This sense of taking history seriously, but not too seriously, seems to be shared by those involved.

Reflecting on the day's events, Sir Nic expressed his admiration for the elaborate ceremony. He praised the seamless blend of history and procedure that characterises the State Opening of Parliament.

"One of the things we do really well is recognise tradition and all of the pageantry that goes alongside that and that was hugely on display yesterday," he added.