December 8, 2023
Queen Elizabeth II has delivered her annual Christmas message to the Commonwealth.
The theme of the 87-year-old monarch’s televised address was “reflection”. It focussed on the birth of her great-grandson and heir, Prince George, the 60th anniversary of her coronation in 1953, and looked ahead to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.
Queen Elizabeth II has opened the 2012 parliamentary year in the United Kingdom’s Parliament at Westminster.
A State Opening of Parliament is the main ceremonial occasion of the parliamentary calendar. Escorted by the Household Cavalry, the Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. She enters the House of Lords and directs Black Rod to summon the members of the House of Commons.
Black Rod, as the chief official of the House of Lords, is ceremonially denied entry to the Commons, a practice that symbolises the independence of the Commons from the monarchy. Black Rod knocks three times on the door of the Commons chamber. When admitted, he advises the Speaker that the Queen has summonsed members to the Lords. Members then proceed to the Bar of the House and listen to the Queen’s speech.
Queen Elizabeth II has delivered her annual Christmas message to the Commonwealth.
The televised message comes at the end of the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations of her 60 years on the throne.
The Queen has delivered a short televised message of thanks for the celebration of her Diamond Jubilee.
Flanked by a picture of Prince William and his wife, Kate, the Queen’s message maintained the symbolism of the Royal Family’s appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace earlier in the day. The picture was one of the current Queen and the future Kings. Other members of the family, often seen on these occasions, were absent. It was a picture of certainty, stability and the future.
