The King is set to attend the State Opening of Parliament as Monarch for the first time. Charles III will travel to the Palace of Westminster on November 7th 2023 for the event, the traditional ceremony which allows Britain’s politicians to get down to business. So what is the Monarch’s role at the State Opening of Parliament?
All laws are passed in The King’s name and require Royal Assent, although this is always a formality and hasn’t been refused since 1707. Real power rests with parliament. However, it can’t begin its public business every year until the Monarch has formally opened its new session.
In a ceremony filled with tradition, pomp and pageantry, the Lord Chancellor approaches The King and, on bended knee, offers His Majesty the speech he will read. The words are taken from a silk bag and addressed to the assembled members of the Commons and the Lords by the Monarch. But they are not The King’s own words. The speech is written for him by the government of the day and it sets out what they intend to do in the parliamentary session to come.
The words are pored over by political analysts but it is the ceremony of the occasion that is a reminder of the ancient power of the Monarchy. The King will, in all likelihood, follow tradition and travel to the Palace of Westminster by State Coach. Ahead of him, in a carriage of its own, is the Imperial State Crown, the symbol of his power.
Inside the Palace, The King goes to the Robing Room where he puts on the Robe of State before processing to the House of Lords via the Royal Gallery. Since the reign of his predecessor, King Charles I, no royal has been admitted to the House of Commons. And in another striking moment of tradition, the Monarch’s messenger, Black Rod, finds the door of the Commons slammed in their face as they approach to ask for the presence of MPs in the other chamber for the King’s speech. Three loud raps on the door are needed before anyone will hear the request. The elected representatives then move in procession to the Lords where they listen to the speech.
King Charles has attended the State Opening many times and read the speech in 2022 on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II who was unable to attend owing to mobility issues. Her Late Majesty only missed the State Opening of Parliament three in her long reign. In 1959 and 1963, she was absent from the ceremony because of pregnancy and in the last year of her reign, health issues prevented her attendance.
In 2022, Charles III attended as a Counsellor of State with his son, Prince William, also present as two counsellors must be together to carry out a duty on behalf of the Monarch. In 2023, Charles III will arrive as Monarch.
It remains to be seen whether His Majesty will wear the full regalia of his role. In the later years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Her Late Majesty chose not to wear the Imperial State Crown owing to its weight. However, it must be present as a symbol of royal rule and when it’s not being worn, it is placed on a table to the side of the throne. Whether King Charles opts to follow this pattern or wear it will be revealed on an historic day.
The State Opening of Parliament remains one of the most important acts in The King’s year. It has been performed many times but each of them is a milestone for the Monarch.
