Knights of Royal England wow the crowds with dramatic jousting display

THOUSANDS of spectators were taken back in time by a dramatic display of jousting at Linlithgow Palace.

With the crack of lances splintering and the thunder of hooves, the Knights of Royal England re-enacted the medieval sport in front of a delighted crowd at the weekend.

As well as the flamboyant jousting display, actors also staged foot combat, and visitors to the two-day extravaganza were also given tips on how to be a medieval assassin.

A working forge allowed experts to show the crowd how to fashion a lethal medieval weapon as well as how to dress up as a knight ready for battle.

For those wanting a less violent lesson, instruction on how a noble lady of the time would dress was also available as well as jugglers showing off their talents.

The primary purpose of the jousting lance is to unhorse an opponent by striking them with the end of the lance while riding towards them at high speed. This is known as "tilting".