Queen Elizabeth II Attends The State Opening Of Parliament
Per Getty, at this event, AHEM: "Queen Elizabeth II will unveil the coalition government's legislative programme in a speech delivered to Members of Parliament and Peers in The House of Lords." Per me, here she is doing her best imitation of herself on a stamp in her one of her more iconic tiaras. (Seriously, stop reading this and go read about this tiara, because it's SO INTERESTING. Number one: it was originally made for a man. I mean, that man was George IV, not some random rich dude with a flair for drama, but still.)
Queen Elizabeth II Attends The State Opening Of Parliament
"And then, on Thursday, I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! is on at 9pm...Whoops, this is the TV Guide. Terribly sorry. Anyway. Um. You're open now! All done! God save ME! Let's go have lunch."
As you can see, she's changed her crown into the IMPERIAL STATE CROWN, the history of which is ALSO fascinating, not the least because of this tidbit, from Wikipedia: "Monarchs often choose to wear the Imperial State Crown in their private apartments on and off for a couple of hours prior to the State Opening of Parliament so they can get used to the weight and feel comfortable with it on. Paul Burrell reported witnessing, the night before a State Opening, the Queen working on the red government dispatch boxes while wearing it." I like the idea of her wearing this whilst, like, eating a giant bag of Skittles and watching TV at home. The Court Jeweller has video of (a much younger) QE2 actually explaining its significance (whilst wearing the crown we saw her in earlier today).
The Crown Takes a Field Trip
It also rode over in its own carriage (It's generally with the Crown Jewels kicking it in The Tower with the cranky ghost of Anne Boleyn) so she could change into it before kicking this thing off. I like to think these dudes are like, "Whatever you do, don't DROP IT this year, Nigel." Poor Nigel.
Queen Elizabeth II, Some Ermine, and the Duke of Edinburgh
What a shame they're having this event in a place that's so lacking in drama.
Camilla
Camilla, of course, was in attendance (so was Charles, obviously, although I just realized I neglected to get a picture of him. Well, spoiler: He looked like Prince Charles) wearing the tiara she always wears, which is very SPARKLY and which also of course she would love because Camilla cannot resist putting items that look like wreaths atop her noggin. I cannot help but think how strange it must be to get THIS DRESSED UP for the middle of the day. I wonder if she goes home and puts on yoga pants.
The New Carriage
But possibly the most interesting item at this event is the Queen's new carriage. I'm not kidding, it's totally fascinating. Per this article in The Mirror, it's got bits and bobs from all kinds of history embedded in it: shards of The Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s warship! Bits of bark from the tree that bore the apple that whacked Newton on the head! Pieces of 10 Downing Street's front door (I hope not too many, or else there will be a draft)! And WAY more. It's actually TOTALLY fascinating, and this I shall leave it with you to read and learn. HISTORY!