Lawyers and Old Bailey judges have marked the coronation of King Charles by visiting a newly planted tree at Gray’s Inn, where the monarch is a senior royal bencher.
Kirsty Brimelow KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and silks, juniors and judges from the country’s most high-profile criminal court headed to the inn, where a beech tree was planted yesterday.
The King was appointed a royal bencher in February 1975, as prince of Wales, continuing a tradition dating from 1861. Obiter presumes the idea is to prepare the monarch-to-be for the duty of bringing all criminal prosecutions but would welcome further enlightenment.
Brimelow said today was a time to reflect on the roots of the monarchy and the bar. ‘Over centuries the bar and monarchy have nodded at each other across history.’
