King's Champion

The Honourable The King's (or Queen's) Champion is an honorary and hereditary office in the Royal Household of the British sovereign.

Although this function was last enacted at the coronation of George IV in 1821, the office continues to descend through the Dymoke family.

[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.

[8] The words of the challenge varied over the years, but those used for the coronation of George IV in 1821 were these: If any person, of whatever degree soever, high or low, shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Lord George, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, son and next heir unto our Sovereign Lord the last King deceased, to be the right heir to the imperial Crown of this realm of Great Britain and Ireland, or that he ought not to enjoy the same; here is his Champion, who saith that he lieth, and is a false traitor, being ready in person to combat with him, and in this quarrel will adventure his life against him on what day soever he shall be appointed.The holder of the post at that time, John Dymoke, was a clergyman and so the honour passed to his son, Henry Dymoke, who was only 20 years old and did not possess a suitable horse, so one had to be hired from Astley's Circus.

At the Coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838, it was decided not to include the traditional ride and challenge of the Champion, and Henry Dymoke was made a baronet in recompense.

[11] John Dymoke had his claim admitted at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and acted as Standard-Bearer of the Union Flag.

The King's Champion in 1821, Henry Dymoke, the last holder of the office to lay down his challenge at a coronation.
At the 1821 coronation banquet in Westminster Hall , the King's Champion makes the third and last challenge before the royal table, the last time that this ceremony was enacted.
The Banquet at the Coronation of George IV by George Jones showed the event in a pageant-like scene.