The Royal Family has lots of rules and traditions to follow, but one of the most bizarre involves the Queen and her members of parliament.
Every time the Monarch enters the Houses of Parliament she takes an MP 'hostage.' They will then stay at Buckingham Palace until she gets back, reports MyLondon.
The tradition was first started in the 17th century to guarantee the safe return of royals.
"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," Joe Little, managing editor at Majesty magazine, told Insider.
In 1629, King Charles I would not allow Parliament to meet and bolted the doors to the chambers shut. This went on for 11 years, and was known as the 'Eleven years Tyranny.'
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When Parliament did reconvene, Charles I entered the House of Commons in an attempt to arrest five MPs. But his plan majorly backfired after he was found guilty of treason and was executed.
From that day forward, the monarch has refused to enter the Houses of Parliament without taking an MP as a hostage for their own peace of mind.
"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 was asked to be the Queen's hostage in 2014.
He opened up about his experience with the BBC where he said that while he wasn't locked up, "they made it quite clear that I wasn't going anywhere."
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."
"When I expressed my anxiety to the head of the armed forces, he said 'if anything were to happen to Her Majesty, Jim, we would have made it quick, we would have just shot you.'
"And, I don't think he was kidding," he added.
But Joe Little confirms the procedure is now just a "ceremonial thing, nothing more" and that the hostage wouldn't actually be hurt if something were to happen to Her Majesty.
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