More than 1,100 members of the Armed Forces and almost 200 horses were on show to deliver the first State Opening of Parliament of the new government. The glittering tri-service ceremonial event took place on the 17th July, which is the same date as Her Majesty The Queen’s birthday, a coincidence which only added to the pomp and sense of occasion.
His Majesty The King, and Her Majesty The Queen, were escorted on their way by troopers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
His Majesty The King, and Her Majesty The Queen, were escorted on their way by troopers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Soldiers from the Blues and Royals (left) and Life Guards (right) guard the staircase in the Victoria Tower, House of Lords.
The State Opening of Parliament always takes place on the first day of a new parliamentary session, and for over 500 years has served as a symbolic reminder of the unity of Parliament's three parts: Sovereign, House of Lords, and House of Commons.
The King's Speech
During proceedings, His Majesty The King delivered a speech from the Throne in the House of Lords’ Chamber; known as ‘The King's Speech,’ which is written by the government and sets out their agenda for Parliament's new session.
Street Liners
Grenadier Guards, Irish Guards and Coldstream Guards, joined RAF and Royal Navy personnel, to line the route of the royal procession from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords, while The Crown Regalia and The King were escorted on their way by troopers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Musical Accompaniment
World class music was performed along the processional route by the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, the Band of the Grenadier Guards, the Band of the Scots Guards and the Band of the Royal Air Force. The Band of the Welsh Guards supported the Welsh Guards Guard of Honour at the House of Lords and at Buckingham Palace. The (dismounted) Band of the Household Cavalry supported The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery as they fired their salutes in the Green Park.
251 Signal Squadron
Also working in support of the splendid occasion were 251 Signal Squadron of 10 Signal Regiment who ensured that the Guns fired on time and relayed effective communications amongst all the troops on the ground; the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Royal Army Veterinary Corps who ensured the welfare of all troops and animals on parade; and 20 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps who got everyone in and out of the capital on time.
Gun Salutes
As soon as The King arrived at the Sovereign's Entrance of The House of Lords, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41 Gun Salute in Green Park as a signal to all that the State Opening of Parliament had begun. After a brief pause, they fired a second 41 Gun Salute to mark the 77th birthday of Her Majesty The Queen.
As His Majesty The King left the House of Lords at noon, a further 41-gun signal salute to signal His departure was fired from the Tower of London by The Honourable Artillery Company, which is part of the Army Reserve. After a brief interval, The Honourable Artillery Company then fired a 62 round celebratory Gun Salute on behalf of the City of London to mark the birthday of Her Majesty The Queen.
Ceremonial Activity
State Opening falls in an exceptionally busy period for London’s military personnel but all assiduously took to the streets in the early hours of Tuesday morning to rehearse their moves in the traffic-less streets, while London slept, so the final result could be as perfect as possible.
All of the British Army units taking part in the event were involved in the Trooping of the Colour for the King’s Official Birthday Parade a mere month ago, and the Japanese State Visit at the end of June. The Bands will be performing a Military Musical Spectacular concert on Horse Guards three nights this week. Royal Navy and RAF personnel were heavily involved in the D-Day Commemorations last month.
Operational Activity
Many of those on parade have been busy delivering essential combat training to Ukrainian forces in the UK, as well as taking part in numerous overseas operational exercises and deployments working closely with our allied nations, in Africa, the Middle East, Estonia, the USA and Cyprus, as well as in locations as far flung as Uzbekistan, Japan and the Falkland Islands. The weeks of daily rehearsals and additional horse and kit preparation have kept our ceremonial forces busier than ever. But it has been an event to look forward to, and for many, marks the final major event before Summer leave.