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The Honourable The King's (or Queen's) Champion is an honorary and hereditary office in the Royal Household of the British sovereign. The champion's original role at the coronation of a British monarch was to challenge anyone who contested the new monarch's entitlement to the throne to trial by combat. Although this function was last enacted at the coronation of George IV in 1821, the office continues to descend through the Dymoke family.
The Lord of the Manor of Scrivelsby in Lincolnshire, England, has, since the Norman Conquest in 1066, held the manor from the Crown by grand serjeanty of being the King's or Queen's Champion. Such person is also the Standard Bearer of England. The current King's Champion is a member of the Dymoke family, which has included many Champions.[1]
The 35th Champion was the 34th Lord of the Manor of Scrivelsby, Thornton and Dalderby and patron of the living of Scrivelsby-cum-Dalderby, Francis John Fane Marmion Dymoke (b. 19 January 1955, d. December 2023),[2] a farmer and former chartered accountant. He served as the King's Champion at the coronation of Charles III, where he carried the Royal Standard in the coronation procession.[3] He served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1999.[4]
The present Champion is his eldest son, Henry Francis Marmion Dymoke (born 1984).
- ^ Armitage, Rachel. "Scrivelsby's Francis Dymoke discusses role as King's Champion in Coronation". Licolnshire World. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/breaking-news-kings-champion-francis-dymoke-has-passed-away-4452570 [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-04-27/roles-to-be-performed-at-the-coronation-service-at-westminster-abbey [bare URL]
- ^ https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/peerage-news/v0nlK22dR30; Peerage News: Lt-Col John Lindley Marmion Dymoke, MBE 1926-2015; Retrieved 30 March 2015