Traditions and Rituals: Eton College

The 7th February is an important date in the calendar of Eton College traditions.
Today pupils at the school will celebrate the eating of the 'Kinges Paite' or king's Pie, the origins of which date back to the times of James I.

For two weeks before the 7th, 23 chosen boys must wear a special undergarment made of hessian which they must not remove at all costs. Meanwhile the pie is prepared. It is oval in shape, 3 yards 13 inches long by 58 inches wide. The pastry, thick, rich, buttery contains 'Bilet' or gunpowder from the Royal Armoury. This is brought in by a mounted 'Willie' or Royal guard who also brings a message from the Queen.

The filling of the pie is something of a mystery, believed to contain mutton, hare, pigeon and squirrel. But one ingredient is no longer a secret; on the 4th February the 23 chosen boys remove their hessian undergarments and lay them one by one over the pie filling and with some ceremony hail the Queen, God and the school. The pastry is then applied by the school cook or 'Fanny' and the pie is placed in a large oven to bake for 3 days.

Today great ceremony will accompany the serving of the pie, which will be dished up with snails or 'bloats', eggs, teasels and cabbage. Old boys or 'Jabbetts', from the school will attend including David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson. For once an 'outsider' is being permitted to attend. David Furnish, Elton John's partner, is the guest of Sir Christopher Chatterley, himself a Jabbett. It is thought to be the first time a 'Pewloe' has ever knowingly been invited to the ceremony. Long Live Eton College!

 The Undergarments are called 'Quelltroons' by the pupils of Eton College. The name derives from a Hugenot word meaning 'bag of dung'.

 Windsor locals examine the 'delicious' Kinges Paite

Eton College is exempt from Health & Safety legislation by Royal Prerogative, therefore the school is able to follow traditions and rituals which would otherwise be banned. One such tradition occurs on the 17th July. 'Botting the Backstaff' is thought to have started in the late 18th century by Bishop Powick; it involves two loaded muskets, a number of soiled sheets and a horse hair and wax effigy of a particularly hated Pope. The rest of the details are a closely guarded secret but it has been rumoured that a number of boys have been treated for severe but undisclosed injuries. One old Etonian who wishes to remain nameless told me that since 1980, when the tradition was revived, at least 12 boys have died following the ritual of Botting the Backstaff'.