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Lords Commissioners, chosen by Her Majesty to act on her behalf at
the prorogation, suspended parliament’s business by reading out The
Queen’s proclamation in the House of Lords at the close of business
today in Parliament. The date for prorogation was decided in the
Privy Council last month.
No Monarch has personally attended the prorogation since Queen
Victoria in 1854. During the prorogation ceremony in the House of
Lords, the titles of bills which have received Royal Assent (and
thereby become law) are read out and answered with a traditional
Norman French formula (“La Reyne le veult” if a bill has been given
royal assent) after The Queen’s letters patent appointing the Lords
Commissioners has been read out.
A speech from Her Majesty will then be read out by one of the Lords
Commissioners from the woolsack in the Lords which will go over the
progress the Government has made in the last session.
Traditionally, the speech concludes with “my lords and members of
the House of Commons, I pray that the blessing of almighty God may
rest upon your counsels”.
Following this, the formal prorogation occurs when the Lords
Commissioners declare Parliament prorogued “in Her Majesty’s name
and in obedience to Her Majesty’s command”.
photo credit: UK Parliament via photopin
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GSTQ !