State Opening of Parliament 1: 2002-2022

[Dman]

The State Opening isn't going anywhere.

 

[Nico]

I guess it's over. Those days.. That pageantry.. and all.. Suddenly in 2019 it may seem a totally unnecessary extravaganza in "tough times".. Let alone how the Queen will be..
I really pray it doesn't happen, but..

I agree. The opportunity seems too good to somewhat scale down the pagentry next time, Swedish style.
Wait and see.

 

[RoyalProtocol]

I agree. The opportunity seems too good to somewhat scale down the pagentry next time, Swedish style.
Wait and see.

I really hope this isn't the case. My only worry is a 93 year old Queen and the weight of the crown/state robes and regalia.

 

[Dman]

I really hope this isn't the case. My only worry is a 93 year old Queen and the weight of the crown/state robes and regalia.

I think she'll start just wearing her State Diadem at future State Openings due to the weight of the Imperial State Crown.

 

[RoyalProtocol]

I think she'll start just wearing her State Diadem at future State Openings due to the weight of the Imperial State Crown.

Yes I imagine this may be the case with the Crown carried before her on a cushion. It will be interesting to see if the Crown make an appearance on Wednesday on a cushion.

 

[Marengo]

Wasn't the reason to suspend next years speech because the government will have no plans apart from the mammoth task of deciding what EU regulations and directives to take over and which ones to drop? I am sure there will be a speech from 2019 onwards, people are proud of their traditions in Britain fortunately. Is there anybody demanding the tradition to be downscaled? Apart from the crown and pageantry, wouldn't we miss the hackling of MP Dennis Skinner? . I doubt a major change will happen under the present monarch. Good that the government already announces it now already.

 

[RoyalProtocol]

State Opening of Parliament 2002-2017

Wasn't the reason to suspend next years speech because the government will have no plans apart from the mammoth task of deciding what EU regulations and directives to take over and which ones to drop? I am sure there will be a speech from 2019 onwards, people are proud of their traditions in Britain fortunately. Is there anybody demanding the tradition to be downscaled? Apart from the crown and pageantry, wouldn't we miss the hackling of MP Dennis Skinner? . I doubt a major change will happen under the present monarch. Good that the government already announces it now already.

Oh definitely I think the Government have a completely valid reason not to hold a State Opening next year and they have done the right thing to tell us now.

Ceremonial is part of the rich fabric which runs though out nations history. We may see it scaled back in years to come, during future reigns.

But I do think we will see continuing small concessions as Her Majesty progresses through her 10th decade. (We've already seen her use the lift instead of the stairs at Parliament and changes at Trooping the Colour to involve less climbing in and out of the carriage).

 

[Marengo]

I suspect that is how traditions work. 'Change with time to remain the same', as was the motto of the Uzeda family in I Vicerè.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Remember that most of these 'traditions' in their current form have only been around for about a century.

There was a State Opening of Parliament under Victoria but the pageantry we associate with it were introduced by Edward VII who believed that the people wanted that after 40 years of virtually no pageantry at all but these days I don't think the public want to see so much - the comments about holding Trooping and everyone smiling so close to the Grenfell fire are quite scathing. I put up a post on the DM supporting it and have received over 75% red arrows. I know many people ignore the comments but I do believe that there are times when they are reflective of public opinion (not only British but the world's).

I was also surprised at how small the crowd was. The pictures showing the crowd while the family were on the balcony was about half the size of last years - where the back people were was closer than I could get last year and it was packed all around me. I spoke to one person as I was leaving and they were way further back than I was as they were at the entrance to Horseguards and moved onto the Mall from there and the balcony to them was barely visible. Sure last year was the Queen's 90th birthday parade but the crowd looks to have been about half of last year's

I doubt that the Queen will bring back the full pageantry for the State Opening. The level of pomp for this year will be enough I think as that is more what was done during Victoria's day (although she didn't do it) and that was at the height of the empire - an organisation that no longer exists of course.

 

[MARG]

I would be surprised if HM changed next year's opening in any drastic way. Parliament still has to open, even if they are still on this year's agenda. Perhaps the speech will give an update. As we have already seen, the drop in attendance at this year's Trooping reflects a London in grief, gloom and even anger. I should imagine the terrorist attacks have daunted many tourists from both home and abroad this year unless something drastic happens, spirits will rebound next year.

Unlike the Trooping of the Colour, it is far easier to cut back on the State Opening of Parliament. And while the election rather than disasters has been the reason for the cutback, that will not be true of next year.

Those events that involve the UK's legendary pageantry such as the Trooping and State Opening, bring in millions of tourists, and with them millions of pounds. That is just the cold hard facts and probably the reason why the State Opening hasn't been "economised" ever again. It is the ultimate own goal.

 

[wbenson]

I would be surprised if HM changed next year's opening in any drastic way. Parliament still has to open, even if they are still on this year's agenda.

Constitutionally, the only opening that is necessary is the one after the election. There is no legal requirement that Parliament be prorogued annually, and next year wouldn't be the first time that they went without one as there was none in 2011 either.

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Remember that most of these 'traditions' in their current form have only been around for about a century.

There was a State Opening of Parliament under Victoria but the pageantry we associate with it were introduced by Edward VII who believed that the people wanted that after 40 years of virtually no pageantry at all but these days I don't think the public want to see so much - the comments about holding Trooping and everyone smiling so close to the Grenfell fire are quite scathing. I put up a post on the DM supporting it and have received over 75% red arrows. I know many people ignore the comments but I do believe that there are times when they are reflective of public opinion (not only British but the world's).

I was also surprised at how small the crowd was. The pictures showing the crowd while the family were on the balcony was about half the size of last years - where the back people were was closer than I could get last year and it was packed all around me. I spoke to one person as I was leaving and they were way further back than I was as they were at the entrance to Horseguards and moved onto the Mall from there and the balcony to them was barely visible. Sure last year was the Queen's 90th birthday parade but the crowd looks to have been about half of last year's

I doubt that the Queen will bring back the full pageantry for the State Opening. The level of pomp for this year will be enough I think as that is more what was done during Victoria's day (although she didn't do it) and that was at the height of the empire - an organisation that no longer exists of course.

As I've said to you before, don't take the DF trolls so seriously. They are a bunch of racist, sexist, homophobic, ignorant, sick, spiteful bullies who hates everyone. And they represents a very tiny minority of the UK public, and many of them are from other countries.

When it comes to the trooping crowds (who actually vere quite big for a non-milestone birthday parade, despite terror fear), I think I'm explaining it well in this post were I posted pictures of the crowds: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f23/trooping-the-colour-2003-2017-a-9989-71.html#post1994961

State Opening of Parliament: I'm pretty sure that it will be business as usual in 2019.

Pomp and Pageantry such as Jubilees, Weddings, milestone birthdays, the State Opening, the Trooping and State visits is what makes Britain great, and if you ask most UK people (not the DF trolls) then I think the vast majority will say that they want it to continue.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I would be surprised if HM changed next year's opening in any drastic way. Parliament still has to open, even if they are still on this year's agenda. Perhaps the speech will give an update. As we have already seen, the drop in attendance at this year's Trooping reflects a London in grief, gloom and even anger. I should imagine the terrorist attacks have daunted many tourists from both home and abroad this year unless something drastic happens, spirits will rebound next year.

Unlike the Trooping of the Colour, it is far easier to cut back on the State Opening of Parliament. And while the election rather than disasters has been the reason for the cutback, that will not be true of next year.

Those events that involve the UK's legendary pageantry such as the Trooping and State Opening, bring in millions of tourists, and with them millions of pounds. That is just the cold hard facts and probably the reason why the State Opening hasn't been "economised" ever again. It is the ultimate own goal.

To be fair, there were never "millions of tourists" at the State Opening of Parliament. I have seen plenty of State Openings with only a handful of people watching the scenes. The Trooping, an absolute spectacle on an often shiny day, never did attract "millions of tourists". I have never heard that fact. At best a good, full Wembley Stadium was lining the streets is my assumption and that is around 80.000 people, still an enormous mass but far away from the "millions of tourists". People come to London all year round. Trooping or no Trooping, State Opening or no State Opening.

The plummeted Pound has more attraction than any royal ceremony, is my assessment.

 

[cepe]

Constitutionally, the only opening that is necessary is the one after the election. There is no legal requirement that Parliament be prorogued annually, and next year wouldn't be the first time that they went without one as there was none in 2011 either.

Great post. Explains it clearly and succinctly

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I was thinking about the logic amount of public watching the Trooping in real life. From Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards' Parade is roughly half a mile. The Mall is kept free from public. So only room for the queues at both sides of the Mall and of course the lucky ones seated on Horse Guards Parade. My estimation is that it will be -at best- comparable with a Wembley Stadium, which means roughly 80.000 people.

 

[camelot23ca]

I think there will be a general scaling back of the pageantry surrounding the monarchy over the next several years, with this being a prologue for a more generalized scaling back when Charles becomes king. Less lavish ceremonies, fewer working members of the royal family, etc.

This isn't a bad thing. I think monarchies in general do need to be able to adapt, which in the future means less and less fuss. The British monarchy is stable and has been around long enough that it can make these changes slowly and hopefully in. A well thought out manner.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I was at Trooping last year and the full length of The Mall on both sides of the road was at least 10 deep. There are also people who watch in Green Park and St James' Park who then join the people in The Mall. The police told me that they estimated close on 250,000 in The Mall last year.

There was certainly fewer this year but probably around 150,000 given the pictures I have seen.

 

[wbenson]

I think there will be a general scaling back of the pageantry surrounding the monarchy over the next several years, with this being a prologue for a more generalized scaling back when Charles becomes king.

Things have been heading that way for a while too. State visits have been scaled back, the jubilees in 2002 and 2012 both involved less ceremony than the one before, weddings have gotten smaller, etc.

 

[Dman]

The State Opening of Parliament 2017: Coverage Starts at 10:30am on BBC One-
BBC One - The State Opening of Parliament

Cspan2 Coverage: 6:30am-
https://www.c-span.org/video/?430264-1/queen-elizabeth-ii-delivers-speech-opening-british-parliament

 

[wyevale]

Tehe....

 

[wbenson]

The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to hospital and the Queen will be accompanied by the Prince of Wales.

 

[Rudolph]

The Telegraph‏ @Telegraph
Watch live: The Queen's Speech in Parliament

https://www.pscp.tv/Telegraph/1OwxWAQqOlMGQ

 

[Lumutqueen]

No mention of a US State Visit to the UK in the speech, people are saying that means it's cancelled.

 

[wyevale]

So NO Donald Trump State visit this year and possibly not during this two year parliamentary session - after HM the Queen only mentions the Kings of Spain state visit in the gracious speech..

 

[Nico]

Or perhaps the date has not yet been set.... I can't imagine 2018 without a single State visit...

 

[Iluvbertie]

The Queen did mention that the UK was going to host CHOGM next year so that may be instead of an incoming State Visit and to reduce the workload on the Queen only one incoming State Visit each year from now on.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

'Is she trying to make a statement?' Twitter erupts as the Queen delivers speech outlining Brexit plans wearing a hat that looks suspiciously like a EUROPEAN flag

Queen speech hat looks suspiciously like EU flag | Daily Mail Online

​

So strange to see her sit there without Philip!!
Prince Philip admitted to hospital before Queen's speech | Daily Mail Online

 

[Mbruno]

No mention of a US State Visit to the UK in the speech, people are saying that means it's cancelled.

I think it's safe to say that the visit hasn't been confirmed, otherwise it would have been mentioned in the Queen's Speech. However, can the visit still happen (if confirmed later) even if it is not in the speech ?

We don't know either how long this parliament will last. If Theresa May's government falls, there may well be another Queen's Speech later this year, although that is still unlikely at the moment.

So strange to see her sit there without Philip!!
Prince Philip admitted to hospital before Queen's speech | Daily Mail Online

Even stranger to see how frail and aged Prince Charles looked. Especially considering he is the Queen's replacement !

BTW, it seemed to me that Jeremy Corbyn didn't bow when he entered the House of Lords as Theresa May and other MPs did. Am I right or did I just miss it ?

 

[Rudolph]

Full speech

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/queens-speech-2017

 

[wbenson]

However, can the visit still happen (if confirmed later) even if it is not in the speech ?

Yes, sometimes the whole process from the invitation to the visit occurs between speeches, so some visits never get announced in one. For example, the President of Mexico visited in March 2015, but it wasn't mentioned in the 2014 speech. But it was mentioned in the Queen's prorogation speech (which as usual she didn't deliver in person) after the fact:

"The Duke of Edinburgh and I were pleased to welcome His Excellency the President of Singapore and his wife, and His Excellency the President of Mexico and his wife on their visits to the United Kingdom. We enjoyed a warm welcome on our visit to France, which coincided with an invitation to attend the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings."