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King to Start Traditional Game of Hand Ba’ During Jedburgh Visit
The monarch opened the full-contact contest by tossing the traditional leather ball as crowds watched the town’s annual festival.
- On Thursday, King Charles III officially launched Jedburgh's centuries-old Hand Ba' match by tossing a leather ball into a crowd of waiting players in the Scottish Borders town.
- Dating back to 1704, the full-contact sport divides players into two teams—the Uppies and the Doonies—competing to move a leather ball toward designated goals. The tradition has only been cancelled once in 322 years, during Queen Victoria's funeral in 1901.
- During his Royal Week tour, the monarch visited the Jed Shed to discuss carpentry with members and met local resident Julie Gallagher, who described their encounter as "a lovely, unexpected meeting."
- Shaun Carroll, chairman of the Jedburgh Royal British Legion, said he was "chuffed to bits" that the King stopped to chat with him. Carroll noted the visit was "such a positive thing for the town."
- The visit follows criticism from unionist MSPs over an "anti-monarchist" poem read at the Scottish Parliament's opening on Saturday. Reform MSP Thomas Kerr branded the National Theatre of Scotland's performance an "embarrassment" for the country.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left5Leaning Right3Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 36%
C 43%
R 21%
Factuality
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