The State Opening of Parliament marks the start of the parliamentary session. It occurs when Parliament reassembles after a general election, and each subsequent year, in the November. At 1130hrs His Majesty is seated in the Royal Throne ready to deliver the Glorious Speech (King's Speech). The speech is written however by the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and outlines the Government policies and legislative programme for the new Parliamentary session. The speech is presented from the Throne in the House of Lords in the presence of members of both Houses, the Commons having been summoned to hear the speech by the Lady Usher of the Black Rod (Black Rod), Sarah Clarke OBE. In a symbol of the Commons' independence, the door to their chamber is slammed in his face and not opened until he has knocked on the door with her staff of office.
The King's Body Guard
of the Yeomen of the Guard
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State Opening of Parliament
However some hours of ceremony and tradition have been re-enacted prior to the speech's delivery. A contingent of The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard carry out their search of the vaults of the Palace of Westminster. Armed with swords and their lanterns, possibly the same lanterns used by their predecessors four hundred and fifty years ago on morning 5 November 1605 when they thwarted the Gun Powder Plot, they march in single file along the passages and uneven staircases, beneath the Palace of Westminster ensuring that 'all is secure' for the ceremony to continue.
The doors of the Palace are closed to the public from 1030hrs. Invited guests have already taken their seats in the Royal Gallery to the left and right of the aisle waiting in anticipation for the grand procession. The Honourable Corp of Gentlemen at Arms assemble at the top of the Sovereign's Staircase whilst The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard and a dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry assemble in Royal Court. At 1044hrs the Household Cavalry march in column through the Norman Porch and line the Sovereign's Staircase.
At 1047hrs The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard enter the Norman Porch in column and ascend the Sovereign's Staircase and enter the Royal Gallery. The Body Guard is positioned at the sides of the Royal Gallery and will form a Guard of Honour for Her Majesty and The Sovereign's Procession. At 1052 The Gentlemen at Arms move from the top of The Sovereign's Staircase, through the Royal Gallery and into the Prince's Chamber. At the same time The Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State arrive at the Sovereign's Staircase. At 1055hrs they are carried under escort up the Staircase and into the Royal Gallery. At 1100hrs the Officers of Arms proceed from the Prince's Chamber to the Sovereign's Staircase. At 1104hrs the Crown is borne by the Lord Great Chamberlain into the Robing Room. At 1107hrs the Lord High Chancellor enters the Royal Gallery from the Prince's Chamber, joins the Lord Privy Seal at the top of the Sovereign's Staircase and then proceeds with him to the foot of the Staircase to await the arrival of Her Majesty. At 1110hrs The Peers appointed to carry the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State enter the Royal Gallery from the Prince's Chamber.
His Majesty The King, accompanied by Queen Camilla, arrives at the Sovereign's Entrance at 1115hrs. His Majesty is received by the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Earl Marshal and conducted thence to the Robing Room. The Heralds and Pursuivants proceed to the Chamber of the House of Lords, entering through the doorway on the left. The Lady Usher of the Black Rod proceeds to Central Lobby. Those remaining in the leading part of the Procession proceed to the Royal Gallery. Those in the rear part of the Procession assemble and halt at the entrance of the Royal Gallery.
At 1120hrs The Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State are handed to the Peers appointed to carry them, who then join the leading part of the Procession in the Royal Gallery.
At 1127hrs His Majesty, having put on the Royal Robes and wearing the Imperial Crown, enters the Royal Gallery and proceed in State to the Chamber of the House of Lords.
The 7 November 2023 Procession was:
Prince's Chamber and House of Lords
(Direction of Travel)
Procession
Fitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary
Alastair Bruce of Crionaich
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant Rouge Croix Pursuivant
Phillip Bone, Esq Thomas Johnston, Esq
Portcullis Pursuivant
Bluemantle Pursuivant
Dominic Ingram, Esq Mark Scott, Esq
Arundel Herald Extraordinary Wales Herald Extraordinary
Professor Anne Curry Thomas Lloyd Esq
Norfolk Herald Extraordinary Maltravers Herald Extraordinary
David Rankin-Hunt, Esq John Robinson, Esq
Lancaster Herald
Windsor Herald
Adam Tuck, Esq John Allen-Petrie, Esq
York Herald
Richmond Herald
Peter O'Donoghue, Esq Clive Cheesman, Esq
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms
Robert Noel, Esq Timothy Duke, Esq
Sergeant at Arms Sergeant at Arms
David Turner, Esq Richard Thompson, Esq
The Lady Usher of the Black Rod Garter King of Arms
Ms Sarah Clarke David White, Esq
The Lord President of the Council
The Lord Speaker
The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt The Lord McFall of Alcluth
The Lord High Chancellor
The Rt Hon Alexander Chalk
The Lord Great Chamberlain The Earl Marshal
The Lord Carrington The Duke of Norfolk
The Sword of State
The Cap of Maintenance
Marshal of The Royal Air Force The Lord True
The King's Most Excellent Majesty
accompanied by
Her Majesty The Queen
Pages if Waiting to His Majesty
Nicholas Barclay Ralph Tollemache
Charles Van Cutsem Lord Oliver Cholmondeley
Pages if Waiting to Her Majesty
William Keswick Arthur Elliott
Queen's Companion Queen's Companion
Lady Sarah Keswick The Marchiness of Lansdowne
The Lord Steward
The Earl of Rosslyn
Gold Stick in Waiting The Master of the Horse
Her Royal Highness The Lord de Mauley
The Princess Royal
The Chief of the Defence Staff
Admiral Sir Antony Radakin
The Chief of the Air Staff The Chief of the General Staff
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton General Sir Patrivck Sanders
The Fleet Commander
Vice Admiral Andrew Burns
The Captain of the Yeomen of the The Captain of the Honourable
Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard Corp of Gentlemen
The Earl of Courtown The Lord Ashton of Hyde
Baroness in Waiting to His Majesty
The Baroness Swinburne
The Keeper of Her Majesty's Privy Purse The Private Secretary to Their Majesties
Sir Michael Stevens
The Rt Hon Edward Young
The Private Secretary to Her Majesty
Mrs Sophie Densham
The Comptroller of His Majesty's Household The Treasurer of Her Majesty's Household
Mrs Rebecca Harris Ms Amada Milling
Equerry in Waiting to Her Majesty Equerry in Waiting to His Majesty
Major Oliver Plunket Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson
The Comptroller Lord Chamberlain's Office
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon
At 1130hrs His Majesty being seated on the Throne, the Peer bearing the Cap of Maintenance stands on the right and the Peer bearing the Sword of State stands on the left of His Majesty, on the steps of the Throne. The Lord Chancellor, the Lord Privy Seal and the Earl Marshal stand on the right of His Majesty. The Lord Great Chamberlain stands on the steps of the Throne, on the left of His Majesty, to receive the Royal Commands. The Officers of His Majesty's Household arrange themselves on each side of the steps of the throne in the rear of the Great Officers of State.
The King is not allowed to enter The House of Commons (the Chamber where elected Members of Parliament deliberate) so His Majesty commands the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (Black Rod) to proceed from Central Lobby to summon the Speaker and Members of the House of Commons to the Bar of the House of Lords. Upon their arrival, the Lord High Chancellor presents The King with The Glorious Speech that has been kept safe in the Lord Chancellor's Purse; The Glorious Speech, which sets out Government policy for the coming year, is read by His Majesty.