Henry VIII's Joust
Terms and Conditions
Design your own heraldic shield and send it to us for a chance to win a role in Henry VIII's Joust at Hampton Court Palace.
To enter, scan or take a clear photograph of your design and send it to us at [email protected], along with your full name, age and membership number or ID, by 21 June 2026.
1. The Promoter
The promoter is: HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES of HAMPTON COURT PALACE, SURREY, KT8 9AU.
2. The competition
2.1 The title of the competition is Members' Henry VIII's Joust Competition
3. How to enter
3.1 The competition will run from 01 May 2026 (the "Opening Date") to 23:59 on 21 June 2026 (the "Closing Date") inclusive.
3.2 All competition entries must be received by the Promoter by no later than 23.59 on the Closing Date. All competition entries received after the Closing Date are automatically disqualified.
3.3 To enter the competition:
- (a) scan or take a clear photograph of your design and send it to us at [email protected], along with your full name, age and membership number or ID by the Closing Date. Entries submitted in any other way will not be accepted.
For help with entries, please email [email protected]
3.4 The Promoter will not accept:
- (b) responsibility for competition entries that are not received due to equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
3.5 By submitting a competition entry, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions.
3.6 There is no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
3.7 The competition winners will be chosen by a panel of judges appointed by Historic Royal Palaces.
3.8 The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
4. Eligibility
4.1 The competition is open to all residents in the UK (aged 5-15) with explicit permission from an adult (aged 18 or over), except:
- (a) employees of Historic Royal Palaces
- (b) employees of agents or suppliers of Historic Royal Palaces or its holding or subsidiary companies, who are professionally connected with the competition or its administration; or
- (c) members of the immediate families or households of (a) and (b) above.
4.2 The competition is only open to those who are Historic Royal Palaces members at the time of the Closing Date and the winning member must still be an active member at the time of the prize (event) taking place.
4.3 In entering the competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim the prize OR any prize you may win. The Promoter may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the competition.
4.4 Historic Royal Palaces will not accept competition entries that are:
- (a) automatically generated by computer;
- (b) completed by third parties or in bulk.
4.5 There is a limit of one entry per child member (aged 5-15). Up to six entries may be submitted per Family Membership. Multiple entries made by or on behalf of the same child will not be accepted.
4.6 Historic Royal Palaces reserves all rights to disqualify you if your conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the prize competition.
4.7 Competition entries cannot be returned.
5. The prize
5.1 The prize is a participating role in Henry VIII's Joust at Hampton Court Palace which includes presenting a favour (which will be given to you before the show), to one of the teams during the performance. Winners will then have the opportunity to meet King Henry VIII after the show.
5.2 The winners of the prize must be current members of Historic Royal Palaces (as per eligibility requirements above) at the time of entering and the time of the event.
5.3 The event takes place 11-12 and 18-19 July 2026, with daily performances 11:00, 13:30 and 16:00. Please note, all event times are subject to change.
5.4 Twelve prize winners will be selected with two runners-up. Participation in accordance with the above listed performance times will be allocated to prize winners on a first-come first-serve basis. Each prize winner will participate in one performance. Runners-up will receive a small prize of Historic Royal Palaces choosing.
5.6 All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout their involvement in the performance, with the number of accompanying adults not exceeding those listed on the membership.
5.7 The prize is provided by Historic Royal Palaces, Hampton Court Palace, East Moseley KT8 9AU.
5.8 There is no cash alternative for the prize.
5.9 The prize is not negotiable or transferable.
6. Winner announcement
6.1 The winners of the competition will be notified via email to the email address provided/associated with your membership, by the end of June 2026.
6.2 The decision of the Promoter is final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.
7. Claiming the prize
7.1 If you are a winner of the prize, you will have 5 [five] days from the Announcement Date to confirm acceptance of the prize by email or telephone confirmation once notified by the Promoter as a winner.
7.2 The prize may not be claimed by a third party on your behalf.
7.3 The Promoter will make all reasonable efforts to contact the winners. If a winner cannot be contacted or is not available, or has not claimed their prize within 5 [five] days of the Announcement Date, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant selected from the correct entries that were received before the Closing Date.
7.4 Historic Royal Palaces does not accept any responsibility if you are not able to take up the prize.
8. Limitation of liability
Insofar as is permitted by law, Historic Royal Palaces, its agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Promoter, its agents or distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.
9. Ownership of competition entries and intellectual property rights
9.1 All competition entries and any accompanying material submitted to the Promoter will become the property of Historic Royal Palaces on receipt. Winning entries and the two runner's up - who will be awarded the 'Highly Commended' shield and a 'Judge's Special Mention' will feature on the competition webpage, alongside the winners' first name and age.
10. Data protection and publicity
10.1 If you are a winner of the competition, you agree that Historic Royal Palaces may use your name, town or county of residence to announce the winner of this competition and for any other reasonable and related promotional purposes.
10.2 To fulfil the role during the joust performance, the prize winner (participating child member) will be announced by name via speaker at the event.
10.3 By entering the competition, you agree that any personal information provided by you with the competition entry may be held and used only by Historic Royal Palaces or its agents and suppliers to administer the competition.
11. General
11.1 If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions, the Promoter may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude you from participating in the competition.
11.2 Historic Royal Palaces reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, or amend the prize competition where it becomes necessary to do so.
11.3 These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
11.4 Historic Royal Palaces shall have the right, at its sole discretion and at any time, to change or modify these terms and conditions. Such change shall be effective immediately upon posting to this webpage.