The Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, presided over the Official Opening of the Session of Parliament in the Chamber of the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London on October 14th. This is the first ‘full dress’ State Opening of Parliament since 2016.
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The Queen, Prince, and Duchess departed Buckingham Palace in the Australian State Coach, escorted by the Household Guards and Scots Guards. The Imperial State Crown, Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance traveled ahead to the the Palace of Westminster in Queen Alexandra’s State Coach. Upon arrival at the Sovereign’s entrance, the Queen used an elevator, rather than the ceremonial stairs, to get to the Robing Room, where she donned the Collar of the Order of the Garter, and the Robe of State, but not the The Imperial State Crown, for the first time in 1952.
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The Royal Party processed to the Chamber of the House of Lords. The Queen’s Robe of State was held by the Pages of Honour; Robert Bruce, Lord Claud Hamilton, Lord Culloden (grandson of the Duke of Gloucester), and Max Bowen. The Queen was also attended by two Ladies-in-Waiting; Mrs Michael Gordon Lenox and Lady Susan Hussey (wearing the Waldegrave Tiara), who walked behind the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Other people in the procession included the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, and the Fitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary, Alastair of Croniach. The Imperial State Crown was carried by the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Marquess of Cholmondeley. There were a number of other bejewelled ladies present, including the wives of the Lords, wearing glittering tiaras and other family heirlooms, among them Princess Antonia, Duchess of Wellington (wearing the Wellington Tiara). The Duke (wearing the Collar of the Order of the Garter) and Duchess of Gloucester, the Earl and Countess of Ulster, and the Marchioness of Cholmondeley were also present in the Gallery.
Her Majesty, having put on the “Royal Robes”, entered the Royal Gallery and proceeded in State to the Chamber of the House of Lords.
Her Majesty was seated on the Throne with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall also taking their seats. #StateOpening #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/aTN3AOnqzQ
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 14, 2019
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesThe Speech is not drafted by The Queen, but by the Government, outlining policies and proposed future legislation. The speech is carried by the Lord Chancellor in a special silk bag and presented to Her Majesty. #QueensSpeech #StateOpeningofParliament pic.twitter.com/X5CpUuwnrV
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 14, 2019
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Her Majesty, having put on the “Royal Robes”, entered the Royal Gallery and proceeded in State to the Chamber of the House of Lords.
Her Majesty was seated on the Throne with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall also taking their seats. #StateOpening #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/aTN3AOnqzQ
The Speech is not drafted by The Queen, but by the Government, outlining policies and proposed future legislation. The speech is carried by the Lord Chancellor in a special silk bag and presented to Her Majesty. #QueensSpeech #StateOpeningofParliament pic.twitter.com/X5CpUuwnrV
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 14, 2019The Queen summoned the members of the House of Commons, before making her Speech from the Throne, which is written by the Government, outlining their plans for the current session of Parliament, and does not reflect the personal views of The Queen. After the Speech, which lasted 15 minutes, the Royal Party made their way back to the Robing Room, to get into their carriages, and travel back to Buckingham Palace.
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The Queen wore a white gown with the George IV State Diadem, the Coronation Necklace, Queen Mary’s Cluster Earrings, her Robe of State, and the Collar of the Order of the Garter. The Prince of Wales wore Uniform with the Collar and Star of the Order of the Garter, the Sash and Star of the Order of the Thistle, and his medals. The Duchess of Cornwall wore a white Bruce Oldfield gown with the Greville Tiara, Pearl Earrings, her 4-strand Pearl Choker with Queen Alexandra’s Antique Diamond Clasp, the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II, and the Sash and Star of the Royal Victorian Order.
