State Opening of Parliament

Her Majesty the Queen came to Westminster today for the State Opening of Parliament. I was lucky enough to be able to watch from the Royal Gallery (between the Robing Room and the Princes’ Chamber) and saw the procession into and out of the Lords’ Chamber. Whilst the speech was good, it was also rather vague and left plenty of leeway for interpretation as the Government sees fit. Highlights of the morning were the Officers of Arms who look jolly smart dressed as coats of arms and hold what can only be described as wands (I am sure they have an official name & use), and the Cap of Maintenance, which shall now and forever be known as the Sorting hat. The Houses of Parliament seem more and more like Hogwarts.