Labour MP Sir Nic Dakin Takes Part in Traditional Buckingham Palace Custom During State Opening

Sir Nic Dakin, the Labour MP for Scunthorpe, was held at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday during the State Opening of Parliament while King Charles III delivered his speech. Dakin said he was "pleasantly looked after" during his detainment. "No manacles, no torturing.

Uk reported. The tradition of holding an MP at Buckingham Palace dates back to the 17th Century. It began in the reign of King Charles I, who had a hostile relationship with Parliament which eventually led to the English Civil War and his execution.

King Charles III made reference to the tradition in his speech to the US Congress last month. "These days we look after our guests rather well, to the point that they often do not want to leave," the King said to laughter from US politicians. Sir Nic Dakin told BBC Radio Humberside that he watched the parliamentary address on television with "a cup of tea and small shortbread biscuits".

He said the refreshments on offer had been "modernised". "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," Dakin said. He added that he was left in the care of palace staff and the Lord Chamberlain.

Dakin spoke positively of the ceremony itself. "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 said. The Lord Chamberlain sits in the House of Lords.

Uk reported that Dakin spent time at Buckingham Palace as part of the long-standing custom during Wednesday's State Opening.