The pheasant shooting and foxhunting seasons begin now.
The State Opening of Parliament
Date: 23 November, 2004.
Venue: The House of Lords, Parliament, London, SW1 1AA
Description: A major event in the Royal calendar and a moment of pageantry and historic symbolism. The Sovereign drives in State from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament formally to open the next annual session of Her Parliament. Members of the House of Commons are summoned by "Black Rod" in a symbolic ceremony to hear the Queen's Speech from the ornate Throne designed by Pugin in the chamber of the House of Lords.
The Queen travels to the Palace of Westminster down the Mall in the Irish State Coach drawn by four horses from the Royal stables. She is attended by her Consort, the Duke of Edinburgh, and escorted by her Household Cavalry along the Royal route guarded by street liners, who present arms as the Royal procession passes. The Queen is preceded by her Household Regimental Guard of Honour, followed by the Queen Alexandra's State Coach with a mounted escort of Household Cavalry. It contains the Royal Regalia of Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintainance, and the Sword of State which have been brought from the Tower of London.
Before the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars beneath the House of Lords, a custom dating from the attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up King James I on 5th November, 1605at the opening of his Parliament. After The Queen's Speech, in which the Sovereign sets out the proposed legislative programme of her government, Her Majesty returns in State to Buckingham Palace.
Tickets: To watch from within the chamber you will need to be the guest of a peer. The entire ceremony is best watched on TV.
Website: www.parliament.uk/
Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph
Date: 14 November, 2004
Venue: The Cenotaph Memorial, Whitehall, London SW1 and afterwards at Horse Guards Parade.
Description: The annual ceremony to honour the war dead of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, in which the Royal Family play a leading role.
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