As Sudeley Castle prepares to host its annual jousting weekend next month, the castle is now launching a search for two youngsters to be official junior knights for 2019.

The two lucky winners will each receive a 12-month family membership to Sudeley Castle and will be invited as special guests to meet real knights at the castle’s joust weekend on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May, as well as being invited to join the Castle’s summer knight school for a day in August.

Sudeley Castle’s general manager, Wendy Walton, said: “Sudeley Castle has so much to offer, from beautiful gardens, a fantastic fun fort, adventure playground, a pheasantry and a fascinating exhibition of the castle’s history. But what we don’t have is a knight, so now we are hoping to recruit two junior knights to take up the most important role at the castle.

“Despite being a very old castle, we are modern in our outlook, and so we are very much hoping that as many girls as boys will enter our competition to be in with a chance of becoming our official knights for the 2019 season.”

To enter the competition, would-be knights should ask their parents to share their photos on the Sudeley Castle Facebook page saying why they should win, or striking their best knight pose.

The competition is open to children aged between four and 11 years old and the closing date is bank holiday Monday 22nd April.

The junior knights will also get to meet, and be trained by, Sudeley Castle’s new storyteller in residence, ‘The Paladin’ – a female knight who introduces junior squires to the rules of chivalry, heraldry, horse care and jousting through a series of exciting stories being offered at castle events this year.

The Paladin will entertain young visitors to the castle at various events this year.

In the Knights’ Pavilion, she will tell tales of swords and chivalry featuring legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table plus magical stories from the Arabian nights.

Chloë, who also appears as Chloë of the Midnight Storytellers, said: “I’m honoured and delighted to become official storyteller in residence for Sudeley Castle and to help Sudeley Castle in its quest to find two new junior knights for 2019.”

She added: “Sudeley Castle is my favourite place to go in the Cotswolds and it inspires my storytelling. I love giving performances among the beautiful trees and gardens. It’s a magical, peaceful place – brimming with amazing history at every turn.

“I look forward to welcoming old friends and new audiences in 2019. This appointment helps me continue my life’s work: to boldly take performance storytelling where it’s never gone before."