Her Majesty wore the George IV tiara instead of the Imperial State Crown, I'm sure because its much lighter. She is 93, after all!
From Royal Central
By Lydia Starbuck
The Queen has given her speech at the State Opening of Parliament
despite appearing to have the remnants of a heavy cold. The Monarch
looked to be breathing more rapidly and heavily as she took her place on
the Throne in the House of Lords at the start of the ceremony and was
heard to cough before the speech began.
Elizabeth II, who is now 93, set out her government’s plans for the
coming parliamentary session in the Queen’s Speech after the pomp and
ceremony of her arrival at the Palace of Westminster for the event.
However, she appeared tired and slightly under the weather throughout
the whole occasion and her voice at times sounded hoarse as she
delivered the speech.
The Queen was accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of
Cornwall for the ceremony which traditionally begins a new parliamentary
session. The royals travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster in
the Australian State Coach, making their way through rain soaked London
streets.
The Monarch’s entrance into the Palace of Westminster was made
privately and she emerged into the red and gold corridors of power to
make her way to the Robing Room. There she prepared for the ceremonial
procession to the House of Lords.
The Queen did not wear the Imperial State Crown for the Opening of
Parliament. Instead, that was carried at the head of the procession on a
red velvet cushion by the Marquis of Cholmondeley. Her Majesty instead
wore the George IV Diadem for the occasion. Once the Queen had taken her
place on the throne inside the Lords, the Crown was placed on a table
to her right hand side. The Prince of Wales sat next to his mother while
Camilla took a seat to her husband’s left.
The Queen’s Speech was delivered in the presence of the Commons who
made their way to the ‘House of Peers’ for the occasion. The Queen then
returned to Buckingham Palace.
Her Majesty has been back in London for just a few days having spent
the summer at Balmoral with the Duke of Edinburgh. The Prince of Wales
has only just returned to England himself – less than 24 hours before
the State Opening, Charles attended a series of events in Rome marking
the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
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