State Opening of Parliament

Background

The State Opening of Parliament is one of the most significant state ceremonies of the royal calendar, marking the conclusion of a session of the British parliament and the sanctioning of another. It is a ceremony steeped in the sacred traditions of our nation’s legislature, emblematic of its ancient roots and the history which gave rise to a parliamentary monarchy.

In one place are assembled the members of all three “branches” of government, of which His Majesty is the authority and head in each part:

• The King-in-Parliament: The King, together with the House of Commons and the House of Lords, constitutes the legislature;

• The King-in-Council: His Majesty’s Ministers, who are members of one or other House, and members of His Majesty’s Privy Council, constitute the executive;

• The King-on-the-Bench: His Majesty’s Judges, although not members of either House, are summoned to attend and represent the judiciary.

This great ceremony, which has its origins in the 14th century, began out of a necessity for the sovereign to meet with their nobles and the representatives of the Commons. Come the 16th century, the modern structure of the legislature that we know of today began to emerge. As a consequence, the State Opening of Parliament took on greater significance as an occasion for the full Trinitarian constitution of the State (Monarch, Lords and Commons). The ceremony was preceded by an open-air Procession and a service at Westminster Abbey. Over the course of the preceding four centuries, the position of the sovereign has changed and the King instead serves as a synecdoche for the government; it is no longer the case that the sovereign travels to Parliament to give his directives, instead the speech from the Throne is carefully drafted by His ministers.

The State Opening of Parliament as we have it today dates from the mid-19th century following the refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster after the Great Fire of 1834. This may seem contemporary by historical standards, but much of the ceremony we have inherited remains, to a large extent, the same as it was in the 17th century.

Searching of the Parliamentary Cellars

Before proceedings commence, the Palace of Westminster’s cellars are ceremonially searched by the Yeomen of the Guard. This tradition has been maintained since the foiling of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot in which English Papists attempted to commit regicide against King James I and install a Catholic monarch. The Yeomen of the Guard is the oldest military corps surviving in Britain, having been formed by King Henry VII in 1485 following the Battle of Bosworth Field, and are paid for their services in port!

“Hats off, strangers!”

The House of Lords and the House of Commons assemble in their usual fashion; both houses begin with prayers, and each sitting of the House of Commons is preceded by the procession of the Speaker from his residence in the Palace to the Commons Chamber. The Speaker’s procession consists of a doorkeeper, the Serjeant at Arms, his trainbearer, chaplain and secretary. A police inspector stationed in the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament cries “Hats off, strangers” commanding those present to pay due homage to the most senior commoner in the Realm.

The Lords Spiritual and Temporal wear their striking crimson Parliament robes for the occasion.

Items of the Regalia arrive

The Sword of State, the Cap of Maintenance, and the Imperial State Crown - all items of sovereignty invested of the King at the Coronation - travel from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster by carriage accompanied by the King’s Bargemaster and Watermen. This tradition reminds us that before we were able to safely deposit the Regalia by motor vehicle, these priceless items of sovereignty were brought from the Tower of London up the River Thames by barge.

The items of the Regalia are passed to the Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office on arrival at the Sovereign’s Entrance of the Palace of Westminster. The regalia are then carried and safely displayed in the Royal Gallery.

You can read more about the Regalia here.

Arrival of the Sovereign

The King travels from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster by state coach, accompanied by the Queen, and is followed by other members of the Royal Family and senior members of the Royal Household. Their Majesties arrive at the Sovereign’s Entrance of the Palace of Westminster and are greeted by the Lord Great Chamberlain, before proceeding to the Robing Room. His Majesty is then adorned in the Parliament Robe of State and the Imperial State Crown.

Once in place, the King and Queen - along with other members of the Royal Family and the Royal Household - conduct a stately procession from the Robing Room to the House of Lords, where Their Majesties are seated upon the Thrones. The procession consists of two peers directly ahead of the sovereign - who carry the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State - along with the heralds and the Great Officers of State.

The Royal Summons

His Majesty, now seated upon the Throne, instructs the House by saying, “My Lords, pray be seated.” The Lord Great Chamberlain, who is motioned by the King, raises his staff of office to instruct Black Rod to summon the House of Commons. The Doorkeeper of the House of Commons orders that the doors be slammed shut in Black Rod’s face, symbolising the independence of the House of Commons from royal interference. According to Erskine May, the purpose of closing the doors before Black Rod is merely to establish his or her identity and admittance cannot be refused.

Black Rod is then acknowledged by the Chief Doorkeeper of the House of Commons, who commands that the doors be opened and Black Rod duly admitted. Black Rod proceeds to the table, bowing three times in stead, and announces the command of the King for the attendance of the Commons:

Members of the House of Commons attend the summons at once, preceded by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Black Rod, and the House of Commons mace.

The Speech from the Throne

The Speech is handed to the King by the Lord Chancellor on bended knee, traditionally scribed on goatskin vellum. It is entirely written by the Cabinet and reflects the legislative agenda of His Majesty’s Government.

Departure

The King bows to either side of the House of Lords and leaves the chamber in reverse order of the inward procession. The House of Commons then debate and vote on the programme, which is considered a matter of confidence.