It all started with the controversial research of a British medieval historian named Michael Jones.
Simon Abney Hastings (48 years), the son of an Australian farmer, may seem an unexpected invite to the coronation of Charles III, but he will be the only one in the audience at Westminster Abbey who has arguments to dispute the king over his title.
It all started with the controversial research of a British medieval historian named Michael Jones.
Twenty years ago, Jones discovered in Rouen Cathedral in France a document proving, in his view, that King Edward IV (who ruled from 1461 to 1483) was an illegitimate son. This hypothesis has sparked controversy.
The historian says that in the five weeks before Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, mother of Edward VII, became pregnant with him, his father was staying a hundred miles away from her.
Therefore, the expert in medieval history asserts, that Edward was not the true heir to the throne and the line of succession should have been from George, the younger brother of Edward, Duke of Clarence, the direct ancestor of Simon Abney-Hastings.
– ‘He feels good’ –
The family does not own any land or stately home in the United Kingdom, but has inherited the Scottish title of Earl of Loudoun or Count of Loudoun by lineage.
Simon’s father, Michael Abney-Hastings, left the UK for Australia in 1960.
Michael inherited the title from his mother, 13th Countess of Loudoun, in 2002 and passed it on her death in 2012 to Simon, 15th Count.
In recognition of the family’s legacy, Simon Abney-Hastings attends the ceremony with 12 other invitees who proved that their ancestors played a specific role in the previous coronation ceremonies.
The Count wrote in a tweet on Twitter that he was “delighted and honored” to attend that he was asked to play the same role as his predecessors on the sixth of May.
By tradition, since the 12th century the Counts of Loudoun had been charged with carrying pieces of gold, leather and velvet that were tied to the king’s legs in a symbol of his role as commander of the armed forces. But currently it is only touched with the king’s shoe before it is placed on the altar.
– King Michael I –
What the historian discovered in Rouen Cathedral shocked the Abney-Hastings family 20 years ago.
Unexpectedly, a British documentary team visited Michael Abney-Hastings at his home in Australia to record a program titled “Britain’s Real Monarch”.
The family was surprised by what they were told that new research revealed that Edward VII was an illegitimate son, and “this means that you are the true king of England.”
Abney-Hastings said he was aware of a “distant” connection to the Plantagenet – a family of kings from Anjou and Maine – but admitted the information about King Michael I “shocked him a bit”.
Australian Simon lives in Wangaratta in the state of Victoria (southeast Australia) and seems to have no plans to claim anything.
His solicitor and private secretary Terence Guthridge told AFP that historians believe he has the right to inherit the throne, but the 15th Earl “never held that view”.
In fact, he added, he has always been a “strong, loyal supporter” of both Queen Elizabeth II and her son, stressing, “in fact they exchange birthday or Christmas cards every year.”
