The Royal Wedding

This trick was originally published in MAGIC Magazine.

A spectator mixes the Kings and Queens together. He now eliminates three pairs of cards. The final pair is a perfect married couple, both of the same suit. As a final kicker, the three discarded pairs are turned over, revealing the other three Kings and Queens all perfectly married... and the cards were never out of the spectator’s hands from start to finish!

This plot of the Royal Marriages was devised by J. N. Hofzinser. As a plot, it has much appeal to lay people, especially the ladies. The principle used here is the "Stay Stack." This was invented by Rusduck and first appeared in his magazine The Cardiste (1957). 

Working

Remove the four Kings and the Four Queens, then place the rest of the pack aside as it’s no longer required. Arrange the Kings in the opposite suit order to the Queens and place one set of cards on top of the other. Here is an example of the running order of this eight-card packet: KC-KH-KS-KD-QD-QS-QH-QC.

1. Show the packet of cards to the audience, and address a spectator, saying, "In a moment, you will be asked to conduct a very important ceremony... a Royal Wedding. But first, I want you to conduct another ceremony... the ceremony of Royal Divorce!"

You now show the spectator what to do: Hold the cards face down and deal the packet into two piles, dealing alternately left and right. Then, pick up either pile and drop it on top of the other, and pick up the complete packet. Give the cards to the spectator and ask him to carry out this mixing procedure. He can do this as many times as he wishes. When he is satisfied the cards are in a random order, he holds the packet face down in his hand.

2. Say, "Now for The Royal Wedding. In fact, we will use these very words... THE... ROYAL... WEDDING." You now tell the spectator to spell the first word, T-H-E, transferring a card from top to bottom for each letter—so he will transfer three cards in all. Then, tell him to deal the top two cards into a little pile on the table. As he does this, say, "These two cards are eliminated." This is a lie, but it appears true until the end!

Now tell him to spell the word R-O-Y-A-L in the same way (this time, he will transfer five cards). Then, tell him to deal the top two cards into a separate pile on the table beside the first pair. Again say, "And these two cards are eliminated. Only four left."

Finally, he spells the word W-E-D-D-I-N-G in the same way, after which he deals the top two cards onto the table beside the other two pairs.

3. Remind the audience that the cards have been thoroughly mixed, and you haven’t even touched them. Ask the spectator to turn over his remaining two cards to reveal a King and Queen of the same suit. Congratulate him on a successful wedding ceremony, and act as if the trick is over. Then, as an apparent afterthought, say, "I get the feeling that you may have done better than you think..." At this, either you or he turns over the three pairs on the table, revealing three more perfect Royal Marriages!