The peers assembled in the House of Lords in their parliamentary robes for the State Opening of Parliament

Once a year all the key elements of the British constitution are gathered under one roof.  Present in the chamber of the House of Lords are the Sovereign, The Executive, both houses of the legislature and members of the judiciary.  The Lord’s Bishops represent the established church.

Ede and Ravenscroft crafted the Sovereign's present robe in 1952 in preparation for the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The company’s 1952 ledger reads:

“Parliamentary robe for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the best quality hand made crimson velvet, trimmed with gold lace in the traditional manner and lined throughout with finest coronation ermine.”