Pie created for King as part of ancient tradition

A sculptor has carved a lamprey pie out of stone for King Charles as part of a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.

Since before the 1200s, the city of Gloucester traditionally sent a lamprey pie to the reigning monarch each Christmas – a custom that faded in the 19th Century. Now, the pie is baked only for special royal occasions.

Deborah Harrison, 58, was tasked with creating the pie to mark King Charles' Coronation in May 2023.

She said: "I am part of history going back before 1200s. How crazy is that? What an honour."

Ms Harrison told BBC Radio Gloucestershire the pie's stones had come from 12th Century Llanthony Secunda Priory and it had taken her 64 hours to sculpt.

"The King likes upcycled things," she said. "I recycled the stone into a lamprey pie."

She added that Llanthony Priory had sent King Henry VIII a pie to Windsor Castle in 1530.

She has yet to hear from the King about what he thinks of her design.

It will now go on display in the gardens of the King's residents in Highgrove, Tetbury.

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