Many thanks to Mary Lynn for sending me this idea…
The UK’s most ancient laws are often a rich source of mirth – here is a short list, including a nod to the upcoming festive season. My absolute favorite, though, is the one about the taxman. 🙂 However many times I read it, it just goes round and round in my head!
- It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
- It could be regarded an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British king or queen’s image upside-down.
- Eating mince pies on Christmas Day is banned.
- The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen.
- It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing.
- It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour.
You might also like this post about the simplification of the UK statute book.
So the Queen got the tail of the whale?… No comments about the taxman 😉
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Brilliant! Loved the one about the taxman as well 😉
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I suppose there could be an interesting interpretative issue as to whether a bullet-proof vest constitutes a suit of armour….
Nice one Thomas! 🙂
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