Who is 'hostage' in Palace to ensure King Charles safe return?

As King Charles is set to deliver crucial speech to the State Opening of Parliament, a British MP will be held hostage at palace to ensure the monarch’s safe return, a centuries-old tradition.

King Charles speech will mark the beginning of a new parliamentary session.

The monarch will on Wednesday outline UK leader Keir Starmer´s next legislative plans, during a pomp-filled ceremony that could have huge repercussions for the embattled prime minister´s future.

King Charles will deliver the proposals from a golden throne in the House of Lords upper chamber while wearing the diamond-studded Imperial State Crown and a long crimson robe.

The day´s proceedings start when royal bodyguards ritually search the basement of the Palace of Westminster for explosives -- a legacy of the failed attempt by Catholics to blow up parliament in the 1605 Gunpowder plot.

The sovereign will then travel to the Houses of Parliament by carriage from Buckingham Palace, escorted by mounted cavalry.

Tradition dictates that an MP is ceremonially held "hostage" in the palace to ensure the king´s safe return.

A parliamentary official known as Black Rod will have the door of the lower chamber House of Commons slammed in their face, a tradition that symbolises parliament´s independence from the monarchy.

MPs will follow Black Rod to the upper chamber, where Charles, as head of state, will give the speech to assembled lords and ladies in red and ermine robes, plus invited members of the elected Commons.

King Charles told US Congress last month, "As you may know, when I address my own Parliament at Westminster, we still follow an age-old tradition and take a member of Parliament ‘hostage'.”

This year Nic Dakin, currently the MP for Scunthorpe and the surrounding area, will be held hostage at palace for King Charles safe return.

He took to X, formerly Twitter handle and tweeted “Off to Buckingham Palace to be the “hostage” ensuring HM The King’s safe return when he opens Parliament - a tradition dating back to Charles I. Not sure I’m looking forward to it, but glad to play my part!”