The Ceremony of Introduction and Prorogation
The State Opening of Parliament isn’t the only time peers don their parliamentary robes. There are two other key events that demand all the pageantry of ceremonial dress. The most common is the ceremony of introduction, when a peer takes his or her seat in the House of Lords for the first time. The ceremony itself only lasts fifteen minutes, yet it dates back almost 400 years to the reign of His Majesty King James I.
Before the day’s business has begun, the new peer is introduced to the House by his sponsors, two peers of his or her own rank. All three wear their parliamentary robes and carry black cocked hats. They are joined by the Garter King of Arms and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. The Reading Clerk reads the Letters Patent and the new peer swears the oath of allegiance or solemn affirmation and signs the Test Roll. It’s only after they are seated that the three peers don their hats.
The ceremony of prorogation brings a session of Parliament to a close. Queen Victoria’s attendance in 1855 was the last time a monarch was present at the ceremony. Since then, a Royal Commission attends on the Sovereign’s behalf. This commission is made up of a small group of peers dressed in parliamentary robes, joined by the Lord Chancellor.
It’s very rare that the parliamentary robes are worn outside the Palace of Westminster. In fact, this has only happened twice in the last century, both times for the investiture of a new Prince of Wales, in 1911 and 1969.
