“A beautiful surprise”: How a 12-year bond over Medieval jousting led to a fairytale engagement
A UK jouster was left speechless after her squire proposed on the final day of an Easter weekend tournament at Leeds’ Royal Armouries.
Moments after competing in the final charge, Emma Pearn’s squire and boyfriend, Ciaran, surprised spectators by dropping to one knee and popping the question.
Still on horseback and in armour, Miss Pearn broke into tears and nodded yes as the couple embraced.
The couple met at a jousting tournament and bonded over their love for the medieval sport.
They went on to spend over 12 years as best friends, before romance eventually started to bloom in the tiltyard.
Miss Pearn described the proposal as a “beautiful surprise” and said: “he’s the best thing that ever happened to me”.
A spectator said: “It was amazing to be in the audience for this moment! What a way to end a joust! Congratulations to the happy couple.”
Miss Pearn, from Gloucestershire, has loved jousting since seeing her first tournament at the age of seven, but it wasn’t until 2021 that she began her own jousting career at The Royal Armouries tournament.
Ciaran is also a keen equestrian and historical fencer, who is now starting his journey learning to joust under the instruction of Emma and their friend Mike Collin.
This was the 26th year the Royal Armouries Museum hosted the four-day International Jousting Tournament.
Top jousters from Portugal, Poland and the UK competed, attempting to strike opponents with a 10-foot lance at speeds of up to 30mph.
The Royal Armouries said: “While Poland came out victorious, Emma has perhaps topped their cause for celebration.”
As one of just a handful of female jousters globally, Emma has been a champion of modern jousting.
In 2024, she climbed 3,000ft up Pen y Fan dressed in her full 32kg steel armour to raise funds for the Royal Armouries.
Miss Pearn said: “I wouldn’t be the jouster I am today without the support and belief of the Royal Armouries. The museum has worked tirelessly to ensure that jousting is here to stay and has a future.
“I want to get more people talking about jousting. Not just in a re-enactment or historical sense, but in a sense that this is a modern and evolving sport.”