The King departs Buckingham Palace in his royal vehicle and enters the Houses of Parliament in a parade, setting off the pomp and circumstance.
The two most senior regiments in the British Army, the Life Guards and the Blues & Royals, make up the Household Cavalry, which serves as the monarch’s command.
Before taking his place, the King then conducts the Royal Procession through the Royal Gallery to the House of Lords chamber.
The King then gives the signal for a representative of the House of Lords to call MPs from the House of Commons.
Black Rod obliges, only to have the door to the Commons closed in their faces when they get there.
This custom, which originated between the English Civil War and the middle of the 1600s, is meant to represent the Commons’ independence from the monarchy.
Before the door is unlocked, Black Rod uses their rod three times, and all of the MPs follow them back to the Lords so they can hear the speech.
