I think you should turn this into a pantomime – and if you do impressions as well… Well, your Christmas party entertainment is sorted.

I seem to remember seeing a picture in the paper of one former opposition MP and peer who had bought/had made a privy council uniform as well – which on the cost of robes must have been very expensive!

Jonathan: I would assume that prior to ’99 a significant number of those attending the state opening would have been hereditary peers and many well have owned their own robes. So the number E&R might have needed to provide would perhaps have been a smaller number. Now you have mostly LPs who won’t have their own robes (with a few exceptions). I don’t know if E&R or the Lords (which owns some sets of robes) increased their ‘stock’ to counter this change. The robes are presumable pretty expensive to make.

How dear it does appear to appear a peer./
I presume it would seem queer to disappear,/
“George, is Baroness Murphy not yet here?”/
“Her ladyship found no kit or gear we hear.”/
*
Worthies waiting for worthy wear wearies./
And every chevron must match the ranks/
Yet a baroness may fear college dearies./
Students tripping lords as evil pranks./
*
Only few match the lined cap of maintenance/
Fur is humble rabbit in stoat’s appearance./
*
Rarely our health scholarly Baroness wears/
Our race’s white and spotted skins about./
Because too few serfs, traps and affairs/
England has given her to remove doubt./
Ravenscroft and Ede must live as well./
Yes, the Opening by robes all can tell./