King Charles III participated in "Hand Ba," a traditional and physically demanding Scottish handball game, during a visit to Jedburgh, Roxburghshire. The 77-year-old monarch initiated the game, which dates back to 1704, by throwing in the first "ba'", a straw-stuffed leather ball.
Despite initial concerns from his protection officers, King Charles appeared unfazed by the game's rough nature. As soon as the "ba'" was released, approximately 20 players surged forward, forming a ruck close to the King. He responded by stepping back to avoid the melee, while joking with participants about the absence of Health and Safety regulations.
Jethart Callants Club president Charlie Young, who presented the "ba'" to the King, described Charles as being amused and "loving the roughness of it all." Young added that the King recalled playing a similar game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, though the exact date was not specified.
"Hand Ba" is characterized as a full-contact sport where two teams attempt to score by getting the ball to their respective endpoints. Strategies can involve concealing the ball, and the game can become quite intense, leading to the boarding up of shop windows during its annual February matches. The exhibition game in Jedburgh, intended as a demonstration, reportedly became heated.
The match concluded with the Uppies team winning 1-0 after a scrum that lasted nearly five minutes. Among the onlookers were former Scotland rugby players Roy Laidlaw and John Rutherford.
The King's visit to Jedburgh was part of his annual "royal week" in Scotland. His itinerary also included a procession led by the Jethart Callant, Robbie Thomson, a pipe band performance during which the King mentioned his past experience playing the trumpet, and visits to local businesses including a butcher, florist, and chocolate shop. He also expressed an interest in pizzas from the Abbey Bridge Cafe, noting his fondness for those from northeast Scotland.
This marked the first royal visit to Jedburgh since the Princess Royal opened the refurbished Jedforest Bandstand in 2006. Dancers also performed a traditional reel for the King in the town's main square.
