State Opening of Parliament 2: 2023 -

[Elly C]

While we might mourn the loss of even more splendour when the hereditary peers go a reform of the House of Lords was long overdue.

I think many of the ceremonial traditions will remain. As you say the reform is badly needed.

 

[victor1319]

While we might mourn the loss of even more splendour when the hereditary peers go a reform of the House of Lords was long overdue.

Well, England always chose the evolutionary way instead of (with little exeptions) the revolutionary one.

I am no Brit, so I have no skin in the game... But there are quite some changes in Britain lately! And the herditary peerage was inherited too from past generations. Now, agriculture is not that important anymore for the GDP and so is landownership - or so it seems. And nothing really changes, with the exception that now the former Lords have to bribe their way into the upper house in a good democratic way:" Dear Lady Smith of Backwater, I send you with this letter my "contribution" to your political endeavours - Do with it, what pleases you"....

But I feel, it is sad!

 

[Elly C]

But sadly there has been power without responsibility. This doesn’t apply to all aristocratic families, but the system is now way outdated.

 

[JR76]

Anders Norlén, the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, put on a spread to watch the ceremony on tv.

Andreas Norlén on Instagram: "Following the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech with some parliamentary ”equipment” and an improvised lunch with English vibes: sandwiches, tea, baked beans and fries. Tea cups from Cambridge complete the

3,769 likes, 60 comments - talman.andreas.norlen on July 17, 2024: "Following the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech with some parliamentary ”equipment” and an improvised lunch with English vibes: sandwiches, tea, baked beans and fries. Tea cups from Cambridge complete the...

www.instagram.com

 

[Alison H]

Part of the reason for the ceremonies is to show that there's a balance of power. It goes back to when Charles I tried to arrest three members of the House of Commons, just before the Civil War. The door of the Commons is shut in Black Rod's face. As for re-nationalising the railways, it's not so much due to socialist ideals as to the fact that the current service is a disgrace. A number of MPs posted that they struggled to get from their constituencies to London due to trains being cancelled!!

 

[irish_royalist]

Anders Norlén, the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, put on a spread to watch the ceremony on tv.

Andreas Norlén on Instagram: "Following the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech with some parliamentary ”equipment” and an improvised lunch with English vibes: sandwiches, tea, baked beans and fries. Tea cups from Cambridge complete the

3,769 likes, 60 comments - talman.andreas.norlen on July 17, 2024: "Following the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech with some parliamentary ”equipment” and an improvised lunch with English vibes: sandwiches, tea, baked beans and fries. Tea cups from Cambridge complete the...

www.instagram.com

How wonderful!

 

[Royalty Observer]

This is one event where I think crowns and tiaras are not necessary in 2024. I realy like the NL model. Still ceremonial but more adapt IMO to the modern times.

 

[tommy100]

I'd be so sad not to see the Crown at the State Opening of Parliament. I can well see it becoming the way under William's reign but I think its wonderful and makes us different that the Crown isn't just a historic device but something that is still used to show the power and majesty of the sovereign.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

While i can perfectly live with Queen Camilla being the only tiara-wearer in the room if the House of Lords reform passes - i think it would be a mistake to change what the King wears too much…

I can live with the Lord Great Chamberlain carrying the crown in front of the King if he for some reason doesn’t want to wear it… But i think it would be a mistake to make the dressed down version we saw in the last years of QEII’s reign with day dress, fewer participants and less pomp, the new standard…

Britain should be proud - not ashamed of being the last european monarchy where the crown is actively used, and not just on display in a museum

 

[EllieCat]

Strip away all the pagentry and the UK would be a much poorer country without it. I accidentally watched the King and Queen's procession to Westminster and then the King's speech (I was watching YouTube when it appeared, I hadn't even known it was on). I thought all the uniforms and livery looked magnificent and all those red robes made the House of Lords look so colourful, easily contrasted with the other room with everyone wearing 'normal' clothing; and the King's main diamond in his Crown sparkled so beautifully, quite ethereal. I hope Britain never loses its 'Britishness' to become like everybody else. Those traditions have evolved over hundreds of years and are the better for it.

 

[Hallo girl]

Nearly every element of the day and the regalia all have historical significance, it would be a mistake to remove them. Like you I think they should stay.

 

[sophie25]

I absolutely cannot see William and Kate getting dressed up like this. I even think their Coronation will be incredibly paired down with the crowns on cushions beside them.

 

[tommy100]

I agree that if needs be I can live with the crown being carried ahead of the monarch and placed next to the sovereign but yes, I'd hate to see dressed down becoming the norm.

I can see that being how the State Opening goes under William's reign.

I'd be surprised if we go from Charles' coronation to William not even being crowned at all - at least I hope he would have the crown placed on his head and then not changing into the Imperial State Crown to carry on wearing one for the rest of the service.

 

[An Ard Ri]

The Duchess of Wellington,the Marchioness of Lansdowne, Countess Howe, and Lady Sarah Keswick were present and wearing tiaras and possibly for the last time too!
Royal and Noble Jewels at the State Opening of Parliament - The Royal Watcher

 

[pkl]

Can someone explain to me why the working royals stop going to the opening of parliament and with tiaras etc? Why and when was this?

The Queen's companions will not go to state opening anylonger? Or they will still go, but without tiaras? Hmm...

 

[muriel]

I absolutely cannot see William and Kate getting dressed up like this. I even think their Coronation will be incredibly paired down with the crowns on cushions beside them.

Lets see. Hopefully, the coronation of William & Catherine is some time away.

 

[muriel]

Can someone explain to me why the working royals stop going to the opening of parliament and with tiaras etc? Why and when was this?

The Queen's companions will not go to state opening anylonger? Or they will still go, but without tiaras? Hmm...

Some time in the early 1990s, QE2 decided that only she and the Duke of Edinburgh would attend the state opening of Parliament. This was in a bid to show a slimmed down monarchy, more focussed around QE2.

This was then changed again around 2013 (I could be wrong by a few years) when Charles & Camilla started to accompany QE2 and the DoE to Parliament. This was with a view to preparing the public for a potential change of reign.

The peeresses, i.e. wives of sitting Lords, were not impacted by the change above. However, under Blair, the Lords were reformed and all hereditary peers barring 92 were removed. Keir Starmer now proposes to enact legislation removing these 92 as well. If they go, their wives (and their tiaras) will disappear from the chamber.

The Queen's Companions will not be impacted by this. They attend as part of HM's party, and not as peeresses.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I fear that these proposed changes are only the start of the modernising process of the State Opening and other customs and traditions could also get the chop!

 

[JR76]

I think many of the ceremonial traditions will remain. As you say the reform is badly needed.

I'm certain that the ceremonial traditions will remain in one form or another. What I mean is that we'll most likely never see peeresses decked out like the Duchess of Wellington in the benches ever again. They'll soon be only a memory like the many ladies dressed in Court dress at the old Ceremonial Opening of the Swedish Parliament.
It's a pity but has been bound to happen for a long time now.

 

[pkl]

Some time in the early 1990s, QE2 decided that only she and the Duke of Edinburgh would attend the state opening of Parliament. This was in a bid to show a slimmed down monarchy, more focussed around QE2.

This was then changed again around 2013 (I could be wrong by a few years) when Charles & Camilla started to accompany QE2 and the DoE to Parliament. This was with a view to preparing the public for a potential change of reign.

The peeresses, i.e. wives of sitting Lords, were not impacted by the change above. However, under Blair, the Lords were reformed and all hereditary peers barring 92 were removed. Keir Starmer now proposes to enact legislation removing these 92 as well. If they go, their wives (and their tiaras) will disappear from the chamber.

The Queen's Companions will not be impacted by this. They attend as part of HM's party, and not as peeresses.

Thank you. I do hope we will see William and Kate attend too next time. As the regent couple are old too.

(We still have gala dresscode for the parliament opening in Norway, but Queen Sonja decided not to wear gala outfit because the government did not want her there... Maybe they in UK will do as in Norway, an opening with formal day attire and not crown and tiaras. But I hope not... Keep your traditions...)

 

[Spheno]

Can someone explain to me why the working royals stop going to the opening of parliament and with tiaras etc? Why and when was this?

The Queen's companions will not go to state opening anylonger? Or they will still go, but without tiaras? Hmm...

It wasn't about "working royals". All royals with peerages (dukes and earls) were members of the House of Lords. Their wives attended the opening of parliament as peers' wives. ​

House of Lords Act 1999 allowed only 92 hereditary peers to remain members of the House of Lords. All royal dukes lost their membership. Thus they didn't have reason to attend the opening of parliament. It wasn't the late queen's decision. ​

Charles and Camilla started to accompany the late queen as part of "transition of power" process.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Can someone explain to me why the working royals stop going to the opening of parliament and with tiaras etc? Why and when was this?

The Queen's companions will not go to state opening anylonger? Or they will still go, but without tiaras? Hmm...

It was a reaction to the events and bad headlines in the early 90s. Until then it was common but, like so many things, was cut back due to the bad press going on around the royals from about 1990 onwards.

In addition from 1997 it was known that the hereditary lords were largely going to be removed and as most of the royal ladies who attended were doing so as the wives of hereditary peers it was deemed in appropriate for them to going to attend (even the hereditary peers are about to lose their seats under this new government it seems).