Mandy's British Royalty: Ceremonies

Ceremonies are what make the monarchy legendary. The pageantry today is much the same as it was in the days of lore. The coronations, weddings, and even the funerals in the Royal Family draw thousands of their subjects to the streets to watch the procession. Tourism to Britain skyrockets when there is a regal show, and people certainly get their money's worth.

Below, the ceremonies in the life of Britain's ancient institution.

State Opening of Parliament

Though the Queen is a Constitutional Monarch and above politics, she is the Head of State for the country and its Commonwealth nations. The government is referred to as "Her Majesty's Government", and it is therefore the Queen's duty to formally open the new session of Parliament each October or November.

The Opening of Parliament is a very important annual event in the government. It joins together the three elements of the legislature: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Her Majesty The Queen. This ceremony represents the Crown (the Sovereign)in Parliament.

Sessions of Parliament are held in the Palace of Westminster, the famous building that contains "Big Ben", the Jewel Tower, and sits on the River Thames.

Special traditions are carried out prior to the Queen's arrival at Parliament. One of the most famous is the searching of the cellars at Westminster Palace by a group of Yeomen of the Guard (meanwhile, members of the police do a routine and more modern security check of their own).

The searching of the cellars dates back to 1605 when Guido "Guy" Fawkes filled the cellars of Parliament full of gunpowder in a plot to blow up the king. He was arrested for treason and tortured. Every November 5th, therefore, is celebrated as "Guy Fawkes Night", and people set off fireworks and burn effigies of Fawkes.

Westminster Hall, the great hall within the palace, is used for major public ceremonial events, usually the lying in state for major political and royal figures.

Trooping The Colour

This is one of the biggest tourist attractions that Britain has to offer. The Trooping the Colour ceremony takes place each June on Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, and also marks the official birthday of the Sovereign.

Her Majesty personally carries out an inspection of the troops, who make up five Household Regiments - Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards. The ceremony in which they partake combines two very old military ceremonies - Trooping the Colour and Mounting The Queen's Guard.

A feature of guard mounting was for the colours of the battalion to be trooped (paraded)down the line in order to acquaint the soldiers with their battalion's flag, to be used as a rallying point in battle. The divisions each take a turn in the Trooping ceremony each year, as only one Colour can be trooped at a time.

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