Tag Archives: State Opening of Parliament

State Opening

Lord Norton 11/05/2012 – 9:06 am

There was the usual pageantry for the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.  Given that it was a two-year session, some new peers were attending the ceremony for the first time.  The chamber was packed.  (One year, there were empty benches at the back, the result apparently of a shortage of robes. )  The timetable doesn’t change, so everyone knows the routine.  Nowadays, ther […]

Written at 9:06 am on 11/05/2012, by Lord Norton

Topic: |
Also tagged:

Comments (9)

The new Justices

Lord Norton 19/11/2009 – 12:04 pm

One change in the ceremony for the Queen's Speech yesterday was the arrival of the Justices of the Supreme Court in their new robes.  They occupied the two rows in the middle of the chamber right at the front - ahead of peers but behind the senior judges who attend each year.  The High Court and Appeal Court judges sit in their robes and wigs.  They constitute a small number of the judges of th […]

Written at 12:04 pm on 19/11/2009, by Lord Norton


Also tagged:

Comments (23)

Weekend quiz question

Lord Norton 13/12/2008 – 12:15 pm

This week's question relies on observation.   There are pictures of the State Opening of Parliament reproduced on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25334641@N08 One of the pictures was clearly not taken at this year's State Opening.    There are two giveaways as to why it was not taken this year.  Can you identify both of them?

Written at 12:15 pm on 13/12/2008, by Lord Norton


Also tagged:

Comments (6)

State Opening of Parliament

Lord Norton 03/12/2008 – 12:32 pm

The State Opening of Parliament is always a grand occasion.  We do ceremony extremely well and this morning everything proceeded according to the timetable.  The programme lists very precise timings: for example, '11.08 The Lord Chancellor proceeds from the Prince's Chamber to the foot of the Sovereign's Staircase.  11.11 The Peers appointed to carry the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of Stat […]

Written at 12:32 pm on 03/12/2008, by Lord Norton


Also tagged: , , , ,

Comments (4)

Seeing the House

Lord Norton 30/10/2008 – 5:38 pm

Not everyone gets a chance to visit the Palace of Westminster, a point that has been made by one or two visitors to this site.  There are some virtual tours available on the Parliament website.   Though second-best to an actual visit, some have the advantage of covering parts of the Palace not open to the public. For anyone interested in seeing the Lords chamber and its environs, click on: htt […]

Written at 5:38 pm on 30/10/2008, by Lord Norton


Also tagged: , , ,

Comments (3)