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 what would actually happen to the parliamentary “hostage” if
the monarch failed to return safely?

According to former government whip Jim Fitzpatrick, the
consequences would be grim.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who once served as the ceremonial hostage for
Queen Elizabeth II, previously revealed that palace officials made
clear the tradition was more than symbolic.

“If the monarch doesn’t go back, they have one of ours,” he told
the BBC.

He added: “If anything happens to the monarch, the same fate
will befall one of our senior colleagues.”

The MP explained that while he was not physically locked up
during his time at Buckingham Palace, he was left in no doubt that
he was expected to remain there until the late Queen had safely
returned.

“They didn’t lock me up, but they made it quite clear that I
wasn’t going anywhere,” he said.

Mr Fitzpatrick also recalled jokingly expressing his concern to
the head of the Armed Forces, only to receive an unexpectedly blunt
response.

“If anything had happened to Her Majesty, we would have made it
quick,” he was reportedly told. “We would have just shot you.”

Thankfully, the centuries-old ritual remains entirely ceremonial
and has never been tested in modern times.

The unusual tradition stems from the deep mistrust which once
existed between Parliament and the Crown during the 17th
century.

Relations between the monarchy and MPs deteriorated dramatically
during the reign of Charles I, eventually leading to civil war.
Following his defeat, Charles was convicted of treason and executed
outside Banqueting House in Whitehall in 1649.

Since then, a number of symbolic traditions have remained part
of the State Opening of Parliament.

These include the searching of the Palace of Westminster cellars
for gunpowder in memory of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, and
the famous moment Black Rod has the doors of the House of Commons
slammed in her face before summoning MPs to hear the King’s Speech
in the House of Lords.

This year, the role of ceremonial “hostage” will once again fall
to a government whip who will remain at Buckingham Palace until the
monarch safely returns from Parliament.