After sitting through 13 Prime Ministers (not including ones from the commonwealth), it looks like the Queen is getting a bit bored of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the reopening of Parliament. Since Theresa May called the snap election, it’s all gone a bit askew.
After assertion by May, everyone was looking forward to some voting time off, and it looks like Queen Elizabeth felt the same way too. According to the Telegraph, the snap election has thrown her entire summer schedule off. (Doesn’t the Prime Minister know the Queen has garden parties to attend?)
The Order of the Garter service, scheduled for June 19, has been cancelled (for the first time since 1984) in the place of the State Opening of Parliament. Only 11 days after the election, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will head to the Chamber of the House of Lords in a much more casual fashion: in a town car opposed to a carriage.
He will be donned in a morning coat, instead of the traditional naval uniform, while she will eschew her crown and Robes of State for day dress and a hat.
The last time they were so casual was in 1974 when Harold Wilson was elected a second time after a snap election.
There was rumor that the dampening-down of the ceremony was due to the Queen being to old to wear the heavy crown, but Buckingham Palace insisted it was due to the calendar switch-up.
“To allow Her Majesty to attend in support of the parliamentary and constitutional process, The Queen’s program of engagements has been revised,” the palace said.
“As a result, the annual service for the Order of the Garter, which had been due to take place on 19th June, has been cancelled. Knights of the Garter and others due to attend have been informed.
“Additionally, owing to the revised calendar, the State Opening of Parliament will take place with reduced ceremonial elements.”
To be fair, we are really into her snazzy two-pieces, so no complaints from us.
By Harper’s Bazaar