Today, the flag of the United Kingdom flies in celebration of the State Opening of Parliament, which took place in London today.
Quoting the UK Parliament’s web site, “The State Opening of Parliament marks the formal start of the parliamentary year and the Monarch’s Speech sets out the government’s agenda for the coming session, outlining proposed policies and legislation. It is the only regular occasion when the three constituent parts of Parliament – the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons – meet.”
It’s a ceremony filled with pomp, circumstance, and tradition. My favorite tradition is the slamming of the door of the House of Commons in the face of Black Rod (The Sovereign’s Representative in Parliament) as a symbol of the chamber’s independence from the crown. There are indentations in the door to the Commons chamber caused by Black Rod’s knocking over the years.
Also flying today are the official flags of the three of the four component countries of the United Kingdom: England, Scotland and Wales. There is no official flag for the fourth country, Northern Ireland.
Cruesbreck Flags 