State Opening of Parliament 1: 2002-2022

[Dman]

It seems like The Queen will be Opening Parliament again soon. That’s what I heard during the BBC One coverage. Pretty unprecedented.

 

[muriel]

Is this the 1st time that the Duchess of Cornwall has been seated so close to the throne?

I think that is indeed the case. In the past, C&C have been seated together to one side, with HM and the DoE on the thrones. Only the last time in 2017 (?) when the Queen was not in full ceremonial robes did Charles sit in the throne formerly occupied by the DoE. Camilla was not present on that occasion.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I think that is indeed the case. In the past, C&C have been seated together to one side, with HM and the DoE on the thrones.

That's what I was also thinking ,even though its been a few years now its still strange not to see the Duke of Edinburgh present.

 

[Kataryn]

I think that is indeed the case. In the past, C&C have been seated together to one side, with HM and the DoE on the thrones.

Let's face it, Camilla could be queen tomorrow. So it is important to put her in any ceremony, she is the future queen after all.

 

[Mbruno]

Interesting that Gloucester is wearing the Garter collar and no mantle.

When the royal dukes were still members of the House of Lords, dudn’t they attend the state opening with the other non-royal peers ?

 

[wartenberg7]

Interesting that Gloucester is wearing the Garter collar and no mantle.

In that ("non-royal") part of the House of Lords, the gallery, robes are not worn. If he did (again, not to be done up there on the gallery), he would have mismatched his wife, who then would had to follow the royal way of dressing with an evening gown and tiara. So the Duke and his family wore day wear.

 

[Jacknch]

Once again, agenda-driven and/or overtly political posts have been removed and will continue to be until members understand that this is not a political forum.

 

[loonytick]

Who are the two women who stood behind Camilla? I feel like I should recognize at least one of them, but I’m having one of those slow-thinking days where I might night recognize myself in the mirror, if you kwim.

 

[Durham]

I prefer the State Opening in Autumn or Winter as I always felt sorry for the soldiers and queen in her robes on a warm summers day.

I too prefer a cooler season opening because of the magnificent dark blue & red cloaks the household cavalry wear.

 

[Dman]

Who are the two women who stood behind Camilla? I feel like I should recognize at least one of them, but I’m having one of those slow-thinking days where I might night recognize myself in the mirror, if you kwim.

The Queen’s Ladies-in-Waiting.

 

[Durham]

When the royal dukes were still members of the House of Lords, dudn’t they attend the state opening with the other non-royal peers ?

Yes they did before the House of Lords Act which removed most of the hereditary peers. Also their wives.

Princess Margaret also attended despite behind the divorced wife of a peer. I'm not sure if she attended prior to becoming the Countess of Snowden in 1961.

 

[JR76]

Who are the two women who stood behind Camilla? I feel like I should recognize at least one of them, but I’m having one of those slow-thinking days where I might night recognize myself in the mirror, if you kwim.

The Queen's Ladies-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey and Mrs Gordon Lennox.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

In the pics accompanying the Daily Mail article there is one of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester with the Earl and Countess of Ulster at the State Opening.

Upthread someone asked if other members of the RF attended. Looks as if they do.

I know Lord Snowdon has attended with his son in the past, and I think the Chattos have been too.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I know Lord Snowdon has attended with his son in the past, and I think the Chattos have been too.

Arthur Chatto was a page of honour to his great aunt the Queen from 2009 until 2015

 

[Stefan]

The Duchess of Wellington attended as peeress wearing the Wellington tiara. so it is likely her husband was there too. Does he still have a seat in the House of Lords so that he could attend or what was the reason he did?

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Arthur Chatto was a page of honour to his great aunt the Queen from 2009 until 2015

Yep, I know ? It seems he watched the Opening of Parliament with his parents in 2010, perhaps to introduce him to his role of page of honour.

 

[Durham]

The Duchess of Wellington attended as peeress wearing the Wellington tiara. so it is likely her husband was there too. Does he still have a seat in the House of Lords so that he could attend or what was the reason he did?

He's one of the elected hereditary peers.

 

[Al_bina]

Marquess of Cholmondeley, Lord Great Chamberlain, and MP Reese-Mogg were the best-looking gentleman.

 

[Stefan]

He's one of the elected hereditary peers.

Thanks.

Do we know which one of the Pages is Lord Culloden?

 

[crm2317]

I believe he is the boy in the back right of this picture:

https://www.gettyimages.de/detail/n...mpanied-by-her-son-nachrichtenfoto/1175945395

 

[An Ard Ri]

A few more photos of H.M.The Queen arriving at today's State Opening of Parliament.

https://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=14-10-2019 British

 

[Princess Larisa]

Court Circular 14th October:
Buckingham Palace

The Queen, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, travelled in State to the Palace of Westminster today to open the Session of Parliament.

Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses drove in a Carriage Procession, escorted by a Sovereign’s Escort of The Household Cavalry, under the command of Major Jack Barnes, The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons), and were received at the Sovereign’s Entrance by the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain.

The Queen’s Guard was found by 5th Battalion The Rifles, under the command of Major Robert Fellowes, and a Guard of Honour was mounted at the Palace of Westminster by 1st Battalion Welsh Guards with The Queen’s Colour, under the command of Major Christopher Davies.

A staircase party of The Household Cavalry was on duty at Victoria Tower, House of Lords, under the command of Captain Steven Mansfield, The Life Guards.

Royal Salutes were fired in Green Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, under the command of Major Victoria Flood, and from the Tower of London Saluting Battery by the Honourable Artillery Company, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Chorley.

The Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State were conveyed previously to the House of Lords in a Carriage Procession, escorted by a Regalia Escort of the Household Cavalry.

Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms was on duty in the Prince’s Chamber and the Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard was on duty in the Royal Gallery.

The Watermen were on duty.

The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Household and the Pages of Honour to The Queen (Lord Culloden, Max Bowen, Robert Bruce and Lord Claud Hamilton) were in attendance at the Palace of Westminster.

Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses returned to Buckingham Palace and were received by the Lord Chamberlain and the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.

 

[Kataryn]

Court Circular 14th October:
Buckingham Palace

(...)



The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Household and the Pages of Honour to The Queen (Lord Culloden, Max Bowen, Robert Bruce and Lord Claud Hamilton) were in attendance at the Palace of Westminster.

Does anyone know more about the pages Robert Bruce and Max Bowen?

 

[Durham]

Does anyone know more about the pages Robert Bruce and Max Bowen?

The splendidly named Robert Bruce might be a member of the family of Earl of Elgin.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

I believe he is the boy in the back right of this picture:

https://www.gettyimages.de/detail/n...mpanied-by-her-son-nachrichtenfoto/1175945395

Thanks for this! Nice to see that HM often seems to choose younger male relatives from the extended family as her pages of honour. Nice as they don't get to do as many engagements, if at all, as the more major members of the family.

 

[Durham]

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...limmed-down-queens-speech-if-he-wins-election

Boris Johnson plans slimmed-down Queen's speech if he wins election.

 

[wyevale]

Given the timetable desired, and the fact we had a State opening a very short time ago.. this is no real surprise.

 

[Iluvbertie]

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...limmed-down-queens-speech-if-he-wins-election

Boris Johnson plans slimmed-down Queen's speech if he wins election.

Not a surprise that they would do a smaller version this time given how close it is to the last one - assuming Johnson does win a majority.

If Corbyn wins then they may not have the full State Opening either while he is PM as he isn't a supporter of the monarchy.

 

[Osipi]

Just my thoughts but its entirely possible too that, no matter who wins the majority, with having a slimmed down State Opening of Parliament, it puts less focus on the pomp and ceremony and traditions and presents more of a picture of a government that needs to get rolling into action doing what they're there to do. ?

 

[MARG]

The journey to and from Parliament is pomp. It's what is in the "Queen's" speech that sets the stage for the direction the government is intending to take the nation. The ceremony has been abbreviated previously but it does not distract from the "Business" of governing. It is the tradition and form of a functioning Constitutional Monarchy. You do you and let them do them. ?