Extracts from Shakespeare’s newly discovered play, Charles III

In Competition No. 3203, you were invited to supply an extract from the newly discovered Shakespeare play Charles III.

I haven’t seen Mike Bartlett’s 2014 King Charles III but the theatre critic of this magazine wasn’t impressed: ‘A script that breezily defames the royals ought to be great fun, but this cheerless, overblown little play seems to have been created by political numbskulls for those of similar calibre.’ So it was pleasing to receive such a varied and accomplished entry. Martin Parker, Simon Hunter, Nigel Stuart and Alaric Evans earn honourable mentions. The winners take £25.

HARRY DUKE OF SUSSEX Well, well, a king at last. All hail for now. But this succession crowns no true success. Too long apprentice in the monarch’s craft He was as one asleep and hardly woke. Made sovereign by line of blood alone He set at naught that blood when he annulled My titles royal and rights and revenue, And dared deny my son the name of prince. A