We went down town shopping over the weekend and accidentally ran into Bonnie Prince Charlie.OK, it was actually a living history group, Crusade Re-enactment, bringing the 1745 Jacobite rebellion to life, and marking the point at which Prince Charlie's campaign reached his most southerly point. It's an event that's taken place for many years in Derby but I've never quite been around on the right day to catch it. It's nice to see what feels like a neglected slice of history being remembered in this way.
Historically, after a short time in Derby with plenty of partying from all accounts, basing his plans on exaggerated numbers of troops lying between him and London, Charles decided to return north.
This weekend though, Bonnie Prince Charlie was looking remarkably cheerful. After a small skirmish near the Crew and Harpur pub in Swarkestone on Saturday, his troops were regrouping in the city centre but expecting a trouble with redcoats later on the Cathedral Green.
Even so, I think they're putting a brave face on things - or perhaps just don't know about the coming retreat and crushing defeat waiting for them at Culloden
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