State Opening of Parliament delayed

UPDATE- Due to a delay with the Queen’s Speech, the State Opening of Parliament will take place on Wednesday 21st June

The Annual State Opening of Parliament will take place on June 19th, due to the Snap UK General Election. This year, the Queen will not wear evening dress and robes, and will not travel to the Palace of Westminster in a carriage. The is the first “dressed down” State Opening since March 1974, during a Snap UK Election back then. The annual Garter Service, scheduled for June 19th, has been cancelled. Click HERE to read about last year’s State Opening of Parliament.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said:

As announced by the government, the State Opening of Parliament will take place on Monday 19th June following the General Election.

To allow Her Majesty to attend in support of the parliamentary and constitutional process, the Queen’s programme of engagements has been revised. As a result, the annual service for the Order of the Garter, which had been due to take place on 19th June, has been cancelled. Knights of the Garter and others due to attend have been informed.

Additionally, owing to the revised calendar, the State Opening of Parliament will take place with reduced ceremonial elements.

Consequently, there will not be a carriage procession, the military presence at the Palace of Westminster will be minimal and the Queen will wear day dress rather than an evening gown and robes. The Imperial State Crown will be carried ahead of Her Majesty.”

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