Dman
Imperial Majesty
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The State Opening isn't going anywhere.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.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.
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.
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.
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.
No mention of a US State Visit to the UK in the speech, people are saying that means it's cancelled.
So strange to see her sit there without Philip!!
Prince Philip admitted to hospital before Queen's speech | Daily Mail Online
However, can the visit still happen (if confirmed later) even if it is not in the speech ?