Queen Opens Parliament Today in Colorful Ancient Ceremony

Ancient ceremony starts at 2pm this afternoon UK time

The British Houses of Parliament usually make for a pretty drab scene as grey-haired men in suits attempt to score political points off each other.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Queen Elizabeth II sits on the throne beside Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the House of Lords prior to delivering the Queen's Speech for the State Opening Of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster at the Palace of Westminster on May 25, 2010 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the new coalition government's legislative programme in a speech delivered to Members of Parliament and Peers in The House of Lords. Laws expected to be introduced in the coming Parliamentary year are thought to include new voting reforms, repeal of identity card legislation and new powers for parents to start their own schools. (Photo by Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh;Queen Elizabeth II — The Queen and Prince Philip on the thrones at Westminster (Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

But once a year, on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament, which takes place this afternoon, the Palace of Westminster is transformed into an epicentre of British pomp.

As Head of State, it is the duty of The Queen to formally open each new session of Parliament, which she does by seating herself upon the ornate, golden throne and reading ‘her’ government’s projected programme of legislation for the year ahead, in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of parliament, which adjoins the House of Commons.

No monarch has set foot in the House of Commons since Charles I entered the Commons and tried to arrest five Members of Parliament in 1642, or, just the other day, in British history terms.

On arrival at the House of Lords today, The Queen will put on the Imperial State Crown and her parliamentary robe ready for the ceremony itself.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, are driven by horse drawn carriage to the Houses of Parliament, for the State Opening of Parliament, in central London on May 25, 2010. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II set out the new coalition government's legislative programme on Tuesday in a ceremony of pomp and history following the closest general election for decades. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) — The Queen arrives for the state opening of Parliament in 2010 (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)

When the Queen is ready, her messenger, who rejoices in the title of ‘Black Rod’, marches towards the entrance to Commons, and then has the door ritually slammed in his face.

This tradition is a reminder of the right of the Commons to exclude whom they please.

The rebuke is short lived, for the door is then reopened to enable Black Rod to convey the Sovereign's summons to the Speaker of the House of Commons, following which a representative sample of 250 members of parliament are then come through from the lower house (the Commons) to the upper house (the Lords).

Her Majesty has only missed two State Openings of Parliament during her reign. The first time was in 1959 when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and the second in 1963 when she was expecting Prince Edward.

The Imperial State Crown, worn by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, is taken from Parliament during the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament, in central London on May 25, 2010. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II set out the new coalition government's legislative programme on Tuesday in a ceremony of pomp and history following the closest general election for decades. AFP PHOTO/Peter Macdiarmid/Pool (Photo credit should read PETER MACDIARMID/AFP/Getty Images) — The Imperial Crown travels separately to the Queen Getty Images/ (PETER MACDIARMID)

If she can’t make it, her crown attends solo.

Before The Queen travels to Parliament from Buckingham Palace, certain traditional precautions are observed.
A detachment of The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard searches the cellars of the Houses of Parliament, a tradition which dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes was arrested whilst preparing to blow up Parliament. Today, the Yeomen of the Guard continue this historic search, in addition to more hi-tec security checks by police.

Another tradition is the 'hostage' MP, a Government whip who is held at Buckingham Palace to guarantee the safe return of the monarch, a custom which dates back to an era when the monarch and Parliament were on less cordial terms. These days, he is given tea and biscuits while he waits.

The Queen travels from Buckingham Palace in a State coach to the Palace of Westminster, usually accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh.

The Imperial State Crown travels in its own carriage, ahead of The Queen, escorted by Members of the Royal Household.

Spectators will gather in London today to view the procession to Parliament from Buckingham Palace in The Mall and Whitehall.

For those chained to their desks overseas, the ceremony is also broadcast live on this stream http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Live.aspx