The State Opening of Parliament is an annual event, which marks the start of a new parliamentary session. The State Opening of Parliament is an elaborate ceremony involving many old traditions which takes place at the Houses of Parliament, usually in late October or early November. As Head of State, it was Queen Victoria’s duty to open each new session of Parliament, which she did until the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. After Prince Albert’s death, Queen Victoria declined to attend the ceremony until 1866 and she only opened Parliament on another six occasions before her death in 1901. When she did not attend, the Lord Chancellor read the Queen’s Speech in her absence.

This document is called a Ceremonial and it was written for the State Opening of Parliament on 21 January 1886. The Ceremonial shows details of Queen Victoria’s procession to Parliament, the different people involved in the occasion and information about the ceremony.

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© Royal Archives, Windsor Castle

Tasks

11a. Can you identify any special items used in the State Opening of Parliament ceremony?

11b. Do you think the State Opening of Parliament ceremony has changed much since Queen Victoria’s reign? Have a look at this page on the State Opening of Parliament for more information.