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 Lord Usher of the Black Rod (Black Rod), Lt Gen Edward Grant Martin Davis, CB, CBE, KStJ. 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.
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 Lord 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 13 May 2026 Procession was:
Prince's Chamber and House of Lords
(Direction of Travel)
Procession
Fitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary Bluemantle Pursuivant
Alastair Bruce of Crionaich James Peill, Esq
Rouge Dragon
Pursuivant Rouge Croix Pursuivant
Phillip Bone, Esq Thomas Johnston, 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
Chester Herald Somerset Herald
Dominique Ingram, Esq Mark Scott, Esq
Lancaster Herald
York Herald
Adam Tuck, Esq Peter O'Donoghue, Esq
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms
Clive Cheeseman, Esq Robert Noel, Esq
Sergeant at Arms Sergeant at Arms
Richard Thompson, Esq Col Duncan Dewar
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod Garter King of Arms
Lt Gen Edward Davis David White, Esq
The Lord President of the Council
The Lord Speaker
The Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell The Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
The Lord High Chancellor
The Rt Hon David Lammy
The Lord Great Chamberlain The Earl Marshal
The Lord Carrington The Duke of Norfolk
The Sword of State
The Cap of Maintenance
Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach The Baroness Smith of Basildon
The King's Most Excellent Majesty
accompanied by
Her Majesty The Queen
Pages of Honour to His Majesty
The Hon William Sackville Charles Van Cutsem
The Hon Alfred Wellesley The Hon Guy Tryon
Pages if Waiting to Her Majesty
Ike Elliott William Keswick
Queen's Companion Queen's Companion
Lady Sarah Keswick The Marchiness of Lansdowne
Gold Stick in Waiting The Lord Steward The Master of the Horse
Lieutenant General The Earl of Roslyn The Lord Ashton of Hyde
Sir Edward Smythe-Osbourne
The Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
General Dame Sharon Nesmith
The Chief of the General Staff Representing The First Sea Lord
General Sir Roland Walker Admiral Sir Keith Blount
r
Commander Cyber and Specialist Air and Space Commander
Operations Command
Air Marshal Allan Marshall
General Sir Robert Magowan
The Captain of the Yeomen of the The Captain of the Honourable
Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard Corp of Gentlemen at Arms
The Baroness Wheeler The Lord Kennedy of Southwark
Baroness in Waiting to His Majesty
The Baroness Blake of Leeds
The Keeper of His Majesty's Privy Purse The Private Secretary to Their Majesties
James Chalmers, Esq Mrs Sophie Densham
The Principal Private Secretary to Thier Majesties
The Rt Hon Sir Clive Alderton
The Comptroller of His Majesty's Household The Treasurer of Her Majesty's Household
Ms Nesil Caliskan The Rt Hon Sir Mark Tami
Equerry in Waiting to Her Majesty Equerry in Waiting to His Majesty
Major Robert Treasure Major Benjamin Rigby
The Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office
Colonel Edwyn Launders
Field Officer in Brigade Waiting Silver Stick in waiting
Colonel Guy Stone Brigadier Rupert Evetts
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.