Today I learned that, once every year, the Queen of England takes members of Parliament hostage.
So to ensure the monarch’s safety whenever he or she visits Parliament, there’s a hostage situation built into the traditions of the day. Specifically, before the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace for Westminster, three members of Parliament come to the Palace — the Treasurer, Comptroller, and a government whip titled the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household — to bring honorary white staves to Her Majesty. And typically, the Treasurer and Comptroller are free to go. But, as Parliament’s official website notes, the Vice-Chamberlain remains behind, his or her fate tied to that of the Queen’s.
Traditions are fun.