The Royalty Nerd

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It was a big moment for King Charles III, as today he marked his first state opening of parliament as monarch!

The UK state opening of parliament is a production, to say the least. The ceremony is filled with both symbolic and historical ceremonies and follows a structured timeline, even if it may seem silly today.

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For instance, every year the cellars of the Palace of Westminster are searched due to the Gunpowder Plot which took place centuries ago, in 1605. These days it’s mostly ceremonial, but the British are nothing if not traditional, right?

What is the opening of parliament?

This is the event of the monarch opening a session of parliament. The monarch will read a speech, known these days as the King’s Speech, (but obviously was the Queen’s Speech for a long time), which outlines the government’s plans for the year. The speech is not written by the monarch, rather it is prepared for them by the government. This is an annual event, and takes place in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster.

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It’s a glittery affair; King Charles III is seen here wearing the Imperial State Crown, which was also worn for parts of the coronation. On the front you’ll see the Black Prince’s Ruby (which isn’t a ruby at all, it’s a spinel), and the Cullinan II diamond.

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On the back, you can see the Stuart Sapphire. Those dangling pearls are said to be from Elizabeth I!

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Queen Camilla was similarly bejewelled. She wore the King George IV diadem for the first time, along with her coronation gown, and a diamond collete necklace.

The Princess Royal was also in attendance. Anne served as the Gold Stick, which in the past meant that they acted as the monarch’s bodyguard. We know that today the role is symbolic rather than literal, but I also don’t doubt that Anne could easily kick someone’s ass if it came down to it.

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We also had a few other tiara appearances! Unfortunately, photos are few and far between.

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The Duchess of Wellington was spotted, wearing the Wellington tiara. Fun fact: she was born titled, as a Princess of Prussia.

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In the back, you can spot the Queen’s Companions. On the left is the Marchioness of Landsdowne in the Landsdowne tiara, and beside her is Lady Sarah Keswick, wearing a fringe tiara.

If more (and better) photos come out in the coming days, I’ll make sure to update this piece with them. This is really the only time we get to see certain tiaras anymore, and it’s super frustrating that we don’t get decent photos of them.