Scots crown jewels were forgotten for 100 years
I HEARD the Scottish Crown Jewels mentioned in a referendum debate and was ashamed to admit I’ve never heard of them. permanent public display at Edinburgh Castle.
The Honours were first used in 1543 for the coronation of the infant Mary, Queen of Scots, and at the coronations of James VI in 1567, Charles I in 1633 and Charles II in 1651.
Charles II was the last sovereign to receive the Honours and during the British civil wars of the mid 17th Century, they lay buried at Kinneff parish church for nine years to avoid being destroyed as their English counterparts had been at the hands of Oliver Cromwell.
Following restoration of the monarchy in 1660, they were used at sittings of the Scottish Parliament to represent the monarch. After the Treaty of Union in 1707 removed Scotland’s independent parliament, the Honours were considered redundant and locked away in a chest in Edinburgh Castle, where they were forgotten for the next 100 or so years.
They didn’t come to light again until 1818 when, under pressure from author Sir Walter Scott, a search of the castle uncovered the box. On occasions such as the opening of the Scottish Parliament, the crown is carr ied before the Queen by the Duke of Hamilton, the hereditary bearer of the Crown of Scotland by right of his subsidiary title Lord Abernethy.
For the first few years of the race, the winner wore a green armband, and nobody is sure when the yellow jersey tradition began, but it was probably just after the First World War. One theory is that the colour was chosen by the sports newspaper which sponsored the race, it was printed on yellow paper. Another is that, because yellow was an unpopular colour, the organisers were able to get a supply at short notice.
If you don’t mind cheating, buy Uncle Ben’s Spicy Mexican Rice. It tastes just like jollof and can be heated in the microwave in two minutes. It’s not the most cost effective way to make large quantities, but fine if you’re only catering for three or four.