State Opening of Parliament 1: 2002-2022


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Even though there were no tiaras /gowns/coaches I was relieved to see that there was still more pomp in the current trimmed down British State Opening than in most of the other Europeans ones . The Dutch comes close.

To be fair: Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco and Spain simply do not have such an annual event with an active role for the head of state.

Remain just the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway: the first three all have ceremonial royal processions with music bands, ceremonial guards, mounted escorts and horsedrawn carriages. Norway has a more simple and motorized version.

The main difference with the UK is that the three other Royal Houses observe a day dresscode for a day event (all four of them happen around Noon). Over there grand jewels are usually preserved for late afternoon events continuing into evenings.
 
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Perhaps it´s been so toned down because The Queen had to skip the occasion and they didn´t want to give the impression this event is as pageant as ever, no matter if the monarch is able to attend or not?

Still there is the question to be answered why the D o Cambridge didn´t wear uniform as well (or both royal men morning suits)...!
I was hoping to find some clarification here.:sad:

After seeing the Prince of Wales in uniform: I think I prefer jacquet because the State Opening of Parliament is a civil affair and reading the Government's intentions while wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, without any connection to this purely civil event, is somewhat an anomaly.

The Kings of Sweden and the Netherlands used to wear military uniforms but now, for years, appear in civil wear at this civil event: essentially a gathering of elected civilians to hear the intentions of a civil Government.
 
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William was leaving to unveil the memorial to the Manchester Arena bombing victims straight afterwards, and uniform wouldn't have been appropriate for that, but presumably he could have found a few minutes to get changed. Maybe it was just to show that Charles was the one standing in for the Queen, and William was just there to accompany him ... I know that technically they were both there as Counsellors of State, but Charles was the one reading the speech, and the focus was very much on him.
 
To be fair: Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco and Spain simply do not have such an annual event with an active role for the head of state.

Remain the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway: the first three all have royal processions with music bands, ceremonial guards, mounted escorts and horsedrawn carriages. Norway has a more simple and motorized version.

The main difference with the UK is that the three other Royal Houses observe a day dresscode for a day event (all four of them happen around Noon). Over there grand jewels are usually preserved for late afternoon events continuing into evenings.

Denmark does have an annual State Opening of Parliament but the RF are more or less honoured guests and Spain does have The Solemn Opening of the Parliament after a new government has been elected which the king and queen attend.
 
Denmark does have an annual State Opening of Parliament but the RF are more or less honoured guests and Spain does have The Solemn Opening of the Parliament after a new government has been elected which the king and queen attend.

Yes, without an active role for the monarch (Denmark) and Spain is more the formal start of a new legislature of Parliament than an annual gathering to unveil the intentions of Government and to offer the proposed State Budget for the coming year.

The Danish event is woefully dreadful: not even a floral arrangement to mark the Queen's loge, it all looks a boring intermezzo for the royal guests suppressing a yawn.
 
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The Kings of Sweden and the Netherlands used to wear military uniforms but now, for years, appear in civil wear at this civil event: essentially a gathering of elected civilians to hear the intentions of a civil Government.

The inclusion of the armed Royal Life Guard, the Royal men and the King's Grand Guard in uniform was one of the main objections that members of parliament had against the old Swedish Ceremonial Opening of Parliament.
 
I do think we have seen the last of the Crown being worn during the State Opening of Parliament, however, I fully expect it to remain a "gala" event with full military regalia, gowns/tiaras, and pageantry. I'm glad I'll always have the memories of HM attending the State Openings in full regalia and ceremony.

Edit Add On - watching William makes me realize where George gets his "I can't be bothered" faces from. Haha.

Speaking of crowns and full regalia, this was The Guardian's pick of the day from the comments' section:

Today a priceless crown with a 317-carat diamond and 400 other jewels was driven in a custom-made Rolls Royce to a huge palace, where it was placed next to a gold chair in which sat one of the world's richest men, who told 2 million hungry Britons there's not enough money to help feed them.

Link

And from the editor himself:

[...]
Prince Charles and Prince William duly shuffled in behind the Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, the Clarenceux King of Arms and various other members of the aristocracy who had been let loose in the dressing up box. With minimal fuss the Commons was summoned.

Then came the speech itself and Charles couldn’t have sounded more bored. A chip off the old block. His mother must be proud. She has a long record of making her disenchantment with the current bunch of politicians plain with a dull, monotone delivery.

[...]

This shows that there needs to be an evolution to cope with modeen times. It HAS evolued anyway. Gone are the days that the benches were filled with hereditary peers. Gone are the days that the Lord Chancellor had to step backwards after handing over the Speech. Gone are the days that the Speakers of the Lords and the Commons wore impressive wigs. It is already way simpler than it was 40 years ago.
 
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Speaking of crowns and full regalia, this was The Guardian's pick of the day from the comments' section:

Today a priceless crown with a 317-carat diamond and 400 other jewels was driven in a custom-made Rolls Royce to a huge palace, where it was placed next to a gold chair in which sat one of the world's richest men, who told 2 million hungry Britons there's not enough money to help feed them.

Link

And from the editor himself:

[...]
Prince Charles and Prince William duly shuffled in behind the Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, the Clarenceux King of Arms and various other members of the aristocracy who had been let loose in the dressing up box. With minimal fuss the Commons was summoned.

Then came the speech itself and Charles couldn’t have sounded more bored. A chip off the old block. His mother must be proud. She has a long record of making her disenchantment with the current bunch of politicians plain with a dull, monotone delivery.

[...]

This shows that there needs to be an evolution to cope with modeen times. It HAS evolued anyway. Gone are the days that the benches were filled with hereditary peers. Gone are the days that the Lord Chancellor had to step backwards after handing over the Speech. Gone are the days that the Speakers of the Lords and the Commons wore impressive wigs. It is already way simpler than it was 40 years ago.

It's all very well quoting the Guardian but it is a Republican newspaper (not Republican in the American sense) that is never going to praise the Prince of Wales or Prince William except grudgingly if they are supporting the environmental movement. It is also a newspaper that despises British history and anything that might remind people of British history. It represents the view of some Britons but not all of them, in the same way the Daily Mail, its absolute opposite, represents the views of others but not everyone.

You are correct in that the monarchy needs to evolve but it is a fine line to tread between the Guardians "abolish anything that smacks of tradition" and the Mail's "How dare the "woke" mob question our tradition".
 
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The Danish event is woefully dreadful: not even a floral arrangement to mark the Queen's loge, it all looks a boring intermezzo for the royal guests suppressing a yawn.

You’re absolutely spot on, but then again we do have the New Year’s court over several days and other events, like gala dinners for selected tiers and focus groups of the society. Add to that the state visits.And as you probably know, QMll is not exactly a shrinking violet when it comes to the official RF celebrations, and because of Covid- 19 she has a big backlog. We’re normally not short of pomp and pageantry in Denmark, and come September, it’s party time again!
As for the UK:
As a non-Brit I much prefer when QEll is wearing a day dress for the opening of the parliament in stead of full regalia. There’s a delicate line between tradition and innovation; however traditions IMHO should not be kept for their own sake; the opening ceremony should reflect that the UK is a modern democracy, moving forward. The robes, regalia and the monarch wearing the crown belong to bygone times. Then again, I’m not British, however I suppose that opinions on this subject are divided in the UK!
 
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You’re absolutely spot on, but then again we do have the New Year’s court over several days and other events, like gala dinners for selected tiers and focus groups of the society. Add to that the state visits.And as you probably know, QMll is not exactly a shrinking violet when it comes to the official RF celebrations, and because of Covid- 19 she has a big backlog. We’re normally not short of pomp and pageantry in Denmark, and come September, it’s party time again!

Agree 100%. Danmark is a shiny example of a modern monarchy with wonderful traditions. The Opening of the Folketing however... There will be a reason why the Parliament restrict itself. In the modern Swedish Riksdag they have floral arrangements in the assembly hall, a carpet, gilded chairs, to mark the very special guests. The contrast with neighbouring Denmark is remarkable.

But Denmark is an example for all monarchies to modernize. Also for the British, I think.
 
Perhaps it´s been so toned down because The Queen had to skip the occasion and they didn´t want to give the impression this event is as pageant as ever, no matter if the monarch is able to attend or not?

I think it was toned down because they hoped the Queen would attend. Really, the only major changes were no carriages and that Camilla wore day dress, which were both believed to be accommodations for the Queen (Camilla would have matched whatever level of dress the Queen was wearing). The carriage procession in particular couldn't have been brought back at late notice; the travel plans had already been rehearsed the morning before the decision was made.

Looking back through the recent openings, this one was actually the second-"biggest" since 2016. Only October 2019 (where we got the carriages and the Queen in her robe and state diadem) was more than this one.
 
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I think it was toned down because they hoped the Queen would attend. Really, the only major changes were no carriages and that Camilla wore day dress, which were both believed to be accommodations for the Queen (Camilla would have matched whatever level of dress the Queen was wearing). The carriage procession in particular couldn't have been brought back at late notice; the travel plans had already been rehearsed the morning before the decision was made.

Looking back through the recent openings, this one was actually the second-"biggest" since 2016. Only October 2019 (where we got the carriages and the Queen in her robe and state diadem) was more than this one.
I think if carriages are being used or cars, if ladies dress in "regalia" or a daydress with a hat is, IMO, a huge difference. It gives the whole affaire a completely different look.
Not only the Dss o Cornwall wore day dress, but also the peeresses in the chamber watching of course, only wore day dress.


Even if I doubt it myself, I do hope the Prince of Wales will continue the traditions how Royalty should present itself for big state occasions: in a crown and robes!
 
I think if carriages are being used or cars, if ladies dress in "regalia" or a daydress with a hat is, IMO, a huge difference. It gives the whole affaire a completely different look.
Not only the Dss o Cornwall wore day dress, but also the peeresses in the chamber watching of course, only wore day dress.


Even if I doubt it myself, I do hope the Prince of Wales will continue the traditions how Royalty should present itself for big state occasions: in a crown and robes!

The sight of a Charles or William wearing a fur mantle and a wobbling diamond-studded monstrosity on the head, announcing budget cuts to fight a spiralling Debt, really is a demonstration of the unmeasurable deep gap with real life.

My honest and well-meant advice would be to place the Crown on a side table, as is done now for years and to drape the ermine mantle over the throne, à la Sweden: picture
 
It's time to close this thread. You can find the new one here.
 
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