Tag Archives: Parliament

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Queen and Prince Charles attend State Opening of Parliament

  December 23, 2019 at 6:22 pm by

On December 19, the Queen and Prince of Wales attended the State Opening of Parliament following Boris Johnson’s election as Prime Minister. New MPs were also sworn into the session as the Queen carried out a speech outlining the details of Brexit and the situation with the National Health Service, stating next year’s government agenda, including to remove Britain from the EU on 31 January. Scotland’s first minister has also … Continue reading →

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State Opening of Parliament in Britain

  October 14, 2019 at 4:25 pm by

On October 14, the annual State Opening of Parliament took place at the House of Lords in London, England. The Queen wore the George IV diadem in break with the tradition of wearing the Imperial State Crown at the Opening of Parliament this morning, as she read her speech to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson; MPs and other important figures. The Imperial State Crown was placed on a cushion beside … Continue reading →

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First Female Black Rod Appointed By Queen Elizabeth II

  February 13, 2018 at 5:05 pm by

At Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth II presented the first female Black Rod with her ceremonial staff during an official audience. Sarah Clarke, a former championships director at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, was appointed Lady Usher of the Black Rod in November by a special selection panel. She is the first female to hold the position in the Black Rod’s 650-year history. The Black Rod is responsible for … Continue reading →

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Jordanian Royals Mark The Opening of Parliament

  November 12, 2017 at 4:48 pm by

Jordan’s King Abdullah II has inaugurated on Sunday the eighteenth Parliament session and delivered a speech from the throne. Upon his arrival to the parliament complex in the capital Amman, the King was accompanied by his eldest son, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II. Following the official welcoming ceremony, His Majesty moved to the Parliament Hall where he addressed senators, representatives and the government, urging them to be self-reliant. His Majesty added, … Continue reading →

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King of Norway Opens 162nd Session of Stortinget

  October 9, 2017 at 3:51 pm by

The King of Norway has opened the 162nd session of the Stortinget, the Norwegian parliament, on Monday October 9th. In his one and only visit to the Stortinget for the year, King Harald delivered the government’s aims for the coming year from the throne before declaring the session open. He spoke of the government’s aim to “develop a society that is sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms”, while also discussing … Continue reading →

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Prinsjesdag 2017

  September 19, 2017 at 4:36 pm by

On Tuesday September 19, the Dutch Royal Family celebrated the traditional opening of Parliament, Prinsjesdag. King Willem-Alexander was joined by his wife, Queen Máxima, his brother Prince Constantijn and his sister-in-law, Princess Laurentien. The Dutch Royals left Noordeinde Palace at around 13:00 heading to the Knight’s Hall in the Glass Carriage through the streets of The Hague. Princess Beatrix saw the procession of the carriages from the window of the Royal … Continue reading →

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Spanish State Visit to The United Kingdom: Welcoming Ceremony

  July 12, 2017 at 4:37 pm by

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain began their state visit to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, with the customary welcome at Horse Guards Parade in the presence of Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. After greeting each other, the King and Prince Philip inspected a guard of honour before the royal party traveled to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession, … Continue reading →

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Felipe and Letizia Mark Forty Years Since Spain’s Cortes Generales Elected

  June 28, 2017 at 2:23 pm by

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia attended events marking the fortieth anniversary of Spain’s 1977 general elections, the first election since prior to the Spanish Civil War. The royal couple were present for a solemn session of the Cortes Generales at the Palacio de las Cortes in Madrid on Wednesday. They were joined by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the President of the Congress of Deputies, Ana María Pastor, and the President of the Senate, Pio García-Escudero. “Recalling … Continue reading →

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Watered-Down State Opening of Parliament Held in London

  June 21, 2017 at 2:43 pm by

There was less pomp, less circumstance for the 2017 State Opening of Parliament in London on Wednesday, which saw Queen Elizabeth forego the traditional robes and crown she has worn in years past for a simple day frock and matching hat. Arriving by car instead of carriage, the Queen was accompanied by the Prince of Wales, who stood in for the Duke of Edinburgh (the Duke was admitted to hospital on … Continue reading →

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Crown Princess Margareta Addresses the Romanian Parliament

  April 27, 2017 at 9:25 am by

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Margareta of Romania yesterday addressed a solemn session of the Romanian Parliament in connection with the jubilee celebration of “Iasi – Capital of the Kingdom of Romania 1916-1918 and the City Of the Great Union”. It was 100 years ago in 1917 that the Romanian Senate and Assembly of Deputies met in the city of Iasi and adopted the reforming laws of the Romanian State … Continue reading →

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Order of the Garter Service Cancelled In Favour of State Opening of Parliament

  April 27, 2017 at 8:43 am by

Buckingham Palace today announced that the Order of the Garter service will not take place in 2017, as the June 19 date is required for the State Opening of Parliament following the June 8 snap election. Queen Elizabeth presides over the State Opening of Parliament. However, this year, it is reported that the Opening will have “reduced ceremonial elements” – there will be no carriage procession, a limited amount of ceremonial … Continue reading →

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MPs To Debate Whether Queen Elizabeth’s Sapphire Jubilee Deserves Public Holiday

  March 7, 2017 at 10:35 pm by

Whether or not the Sapphire Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II should be honoured with a bank holiday across Britain will be debated in the Commons later this month after Tory MP Andrew Rosindell brought up the motion on Tuesday. “Just as previous jubilees have been celebrated far and wide, it must surely be right that the Sapphire Jubilee is too. In fact, I say to this House that Her Majesty’s Sapphire … Continue reading →

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King Abdullah Meets With British Prime Minister

  March 1, 2017 at 5:24 am by

The King of Jordan had a meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday March 1. Both expressed the desire for the relationship between Jordan and the UK to continue to grow in the years to come, as there is a “long tradition of working together” according to Prime Minister May. King Abdullah also met with members of the Houses of Lords and Commons, with whom … Continue reading →

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Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal Family Hosts New Year Reception

  January 10, 2017 at 10:27 am by

At the Grand Ducal Palace today, the Luxembourg Grand Duke and Grand Duchess welcomed members of Parliament and government for their annual New Year’s reception. Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, wearing an orange shift dress with floral embellishments, were also present to greet the guests, including Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and the Parliamentary President Mars Di Bartolomeo. A second reception will be held tomorrow for members of … Continue reading →

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King Abdullah II Addresses Parliament

  November 7, 2016 at 12:11 pm by

His Majesty King Abdullah II opened the 1st Ordinary Session of the 18th Parliament session in Amman, Jordan. Upon arrival at the Parliament, His Majesty reviewed the guard of honor then the national anthem was played. An artillery unit fired a 21-gun salute welcoming the King. Embed from Getty Images During the opening, His Majesty gave a speech infant of the newly elected members and members of the Jordanian royal … Continue reading →

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Danes Attend Opening of Parliament

  October 4, 2016 at 3:10 pm by

The 2016-2017 Parliamentary Session has been opened today in Denmark, with members of the royal family in attendance. Greeted on the stairs of Christiansborg Palace by the Presidium of the Parliament, Queen Margrethe was escorted into parliament by its Speaker, Pia Kjærsgaard. The Queen looked lovely in a red ensemble, while both her daughters-in-law Crown Princess Mary and Princess Marie stuck to neutral tones (though Mary accessorised with navy blue). Princess … Continue reading →

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Prinsjesdag 2016 Marked In The Hague

  September 19, 2016 at 3:11 pm by

The Dutch Royal Family has celebrated today, Tuesday September 19, the official opening of the parliament, Prinsjesdag. His Majesty King Willem-Alexander was accompanied by his wife, Her Majesty Queen Maxima, his brother Prince Constantijn and his sister-in-law, Princess Laurentien. The Dutch Royals left the Noordeinde Palace at 13:00 heading to the Knight’s Hall in horse-drawn carriages through the streets of The Hague. This year was used the Glass Carriage that was … Continue reading →

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The Swedes Attend Opening of Parliament

  September 13, 2016 at 11:08 pm by

The Swedish Parliament was opened for the 2016/2017 session today, with the royal family in attendance at the Riksdaghuset. Arriving by horse drawn carriage, they were greeted by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and the Parliamentary Speaker Urban Ahlin. King Carl Gustaf gave a speech during the opening, saying that “we live in a globalised world” and that “it was clearer than ever that what happens outside Sweden also concerns us.” The … Continue reading →

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Queen Elizabeth Advises All to ‘Stay Calm’ During Opening of Scottish Parliament

  July 2, 2016 at 3:12 pm by

Speaking at the opening of the Fifth Session of Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh today, Queen Elizabeth spoke of the benefits of keeping calm “in an increasingly complex and demanding world”, a statement of particular relevance considering the aftermath of last week’s ‘Brexit’ vote. “Retaining the ability to stay calm and collected can at times be hard. As this Parliament has successfully demonstrated over the years, one hallmark of leadership in such a fast-moving world … Continue reading →

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Saga Around Beatrix Sailboat Continues: Maintenance Will Stay With Defence Department

  June 3, 2016 at 3:46 am by

The maintenance costs of Princess Beatrix’ sailboat have been a topic of debate in Dutch parliament since 2007. Due to an electorate that lost all sense of direction and a hysterical press,  the debate about the costs has become a perfect tool for a group of politicians to get their faces on television and to scratch the varnish of the throne. Princess Beatrix received the ‘Groene Draeck’ (Green Dragon) from … Continue reading →

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