The Queen ‘takes hostage’ as part of a strange royal ritual – and it’s very nerve-racking.

There are many laws and customs that the Royal Family must observe, but one of the most unusual concerns the Queen and her members of parliament.

Every time the Monarch visits the Houses of Parliament, she holds a member of Parliament “hostage.” According to MyLondon, they will thereafter stay at Buckingham Palace till she returns.

The custom began in the 17th century to ensure the safe return of royals.

“The now-ceremonial practise stretches back to the 17th century and the reign of King Charles I, whose tumultuous relationship with Parliament ultimately led to his execution,” Majesty magazine managing editor Joe Little told Insider.

When Parliament reconvened, Charles I entered the House of Commons to arrest five MPs. But his plot failed spectacularly when he was charged with treason and killed.

Since then, the monarch has refused to enter the Houses of Parliament without holding an MP hostage for the sake of their own peace of mind.

“The ‘hostage’ MP, generally the Vice Chamberlain of the Royal Household, is supposed to be present at Buckingham Palace from the moment the Queen departs until she returns, at which point he is’released.” Joe also added

In 2014, former Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick was invited to be the Queen’s prisoner.

He talked about his time at the BBC, saying that while he wasn’t locked up, “they made it pretty obvious that I wasn’t going anywhere.”

He stated: “In Buckingham Palace, I could do whatever I wanted: I could roam about, I could drink a gin and tonic… They didn’t exactly lock me up, but they made it apparent that I wasn’t leaving.”

“When I expressed my anxiety to the head of the armed forces, he said ‘if anything were to happen to Her Majesty, Jim, we would have made it quick, we would have just shot you.’