Parliament

[Emperor Oli 0]

Hi All

Just got back from a week's work experience with my MP in Westminster. Luckily, it was the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday which was amazing! We stood outside a government building on Parliament Street where the procession would take place. After ages of standing around hearing the bands play and seeing the soldiers march, along came some cars. When the Prime Minister drove past, the band struck up the Imperial March from Star Wars which was quite amusing. The Imperial State Crown went past in its own carriage, as did the Mace. After that, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in their carriage passed through as did others such as the Princess Royal amidst many a horse and shining silver helmet.

Once everyone had gone into the Palace, we dashed back inside the building and through a tunnel leading to the Central Lobby where all the MPs etc file past. Although we were right at the back because we arrived late, I still managed to see the heads of most of the people who passed through which was rather interesting! When Black Rod requested that the Commons go to the Lords to hear the Speech from the Queen, Dennis Skinner shouted "Is Helen Mirren on standby?" which caused uproar. Later on in the day I managed to get tickets to see the debate on the Speech afterwards where the public gallery was full to bursting.

Quite an experience!

[Geordie582 18]

Lucky Devil! This lot are hell bent on banning this sort of pomp and ceremony and we'll be a lot smaller when it happens. I can remember Empire Day at school and the gift of mugs and sweets and the pride of even the smallest in the school. All gone and a dirty word now. We grow gradually smaller as a nation and lots of people rejoice in it.

To see some of it at first hand must be really memorable.

Edited November 18, 2006 by Geordie582

[scottishmoney 29]

Viewing from afar I am disappointed that any traditions from the past in Parliament would be discontinued. The British Parliamentary tradition is the foundation model for so many other Parliamentary democracies around the world including most incredibly the United States. These ceremonies are steeped in history and are the very essence of what makes Britain a unique and fascinating country.

[Emperor Oli 0]

This lot are hell bent on banning this sort of pomp and ceremony

It was marvellous because the day previous there were workmen removing these seemingly permanent concrete bollards to stop terrorists or whatever getting close to Parliament and do damage to it, just to let the Queen's carriage through. Must have cost a fortune!

[scottishmoney 29]

HRH is an expensive habit, but would you have it any other way?

[Red Riley 2]

I think I can understand why you and many others like this kind of thing, but for my part I just think the disadvantages of the hereditary monarchy outweigh the advantages. It would be nice to have a say in who was the next head of state and I am very impressed by the non-executive presidency systems of Ireland, Germany, Czech and others.

Sorry, but I would like to see somebody other than a Saxe-Coburg on the obverse of our next coinage.

[scottishmoney 29]

Hopefully something a bit better looking than the Saxe Coburgs too. Wait til Princess Charley Horse Face gets her mug on the coins.

[Geordie582 18]

Now you've spoilt my day! I cannot get the vision of King Gordon Brown on my money out of my head!

Edited November 19, 2006 by Geordie582

[Chris Perkins 228]

A friend of mine in Germany says that he likes the way that the British head of state is above politics, unlike the president of Germany who is elected and basically a member of the Labour party.

I live here, and Horst Köhler seems a nice enough chap, he goes around making speeches and commending people for doing brave things, patting babies, meeting the Pope, heads of state and such like. Apart from that though, he's pretty pointless and has absolutely zero razzmataz!

Compared to Her Maj, he's just a man in a suit.

[scottishmoney 29]

Now you've spoilt my day! I cannot get the vision of King Gordon Brown on my money out of my head!

In a perfect world we would only have Queens of our countries, and they would all look like this:

She can grace my Pound notes anytime.

[Geordie582 18]

"In a perfect world we would only have Queens of our countries, and they would all look like this:"

Do you think we could get a law past to make it come true? Now I have another vision in my head - and I feel much better!

[Emperor Oli 0]

HRH is an expensive habit, but would you have it any other way?

Definitely not, it's wonderful!

[Peter 615]

Now you've spoilt my day! I cannot get the vision of King Gordon Brown on my money out of my head!

In a perfect world we would only have Queens of our countries, and they would all look like this:

She can grace my Pound notes anytime.

Plastic,piercings and tatoo's not evident.....stunning.

[scottishmoney 29]

Sorry guys, she has been duly elected as Princess Supreme of Saor Eireannais, my country. You will have to stick with HRH.