King Charles Launches Traditional Hand Ba' Game
King Charles was forced to step back after launching a centuries-old Scottish tradition that quickly descended into a chaotic scramble. The King was visiting Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders as part of Royal Week when he officially started the town's annual hand ba' game, a historic contest that has been played since 1704.
Standing in the town square, Charles threw a leather ball into the crowd to signal the start of the match. Within seconds, dozens of local men piled into a fierce wrestle for possession, forcing the monarch to move out of the way as the action unfolded at his feet, Mirror reports.
The Game and Its Traditions
The full-contact game pits men and boys against each other in two teams, known as the Uppies and the Doonies, based on which part of the town they live in. The tradition forms part of Jedburgh's annual Jethart Callant festival.
Before the game began, Charles watched a pipe band march through the town, followed by a procession of horses led by the Callant, the young man chosen each year to lead the celebrations. He also watched as the Callant and his supporters performed a traditional reel in the town square.
Meeting Local Businesses and Community
During his visit, the King met local businesses and stallholders at a market before spending time with members of the Jed Shed community workshop, where he discussed carpentry and helped finish a birdhouse by screwing its roof into place. Hundreds of people gathered in the sunshine to welcome the monarch, with schoolchildren waving Union flags and Saltires as he made his way through the town.
Positive Reactions from Locals
Shaun Carroll, chairman of the Jedburgh Royal British Legion, said he was delighted after Charles stopped to speak with him. "He asked us about the Legion we had in Jedburgh, and he asked if I was managing to recruit any younger members yet," Mr Carroll said. "What an honour for the town and the small businesses here. It’s been great, absolutely great."
Julie Gallagher, who met the King outside the estate agent where she works, said: "It was a lovely, unexpected meeting. He was very nice. Just asked how we were, and shook our hands, and carried on to the florist."
Emma Tennant, one of the market stallholders, described the royal visit as "fantastic." She added: "I thought the town put on a fantastic mix of displays, and our group (of stallholders) here, we had honey, we had stick makers, and he had really lovely time at each different stall." She said Charles had been "very interested" in her work supporting the local bee population and was "very grateful" for the honey and lip balm she gave him. "He said he didn’t think he earned it, but I said I was grateful that he’d come to Jedburgh to see all the good things that go on in Jedburgh," she said.
