Yesterday, Britain presented what is becoming its latest unique contribution to the history of constitutional development — namely, the pageantry of unsolved crises. It was the occasion, known long in advance, when the sovereign delivers what is known as the Gracious Speech outlining his government’s legislative program in the House of Lords to an assembly that includes his ministers, opposition leaders, peers, and MPs of all parties with the most important VIPs, namely the prime minster and ministers, unseated in the humble petitioning position of standing throughout at the bar (i.e., edge) of the House.
Everybody listened with suitable humility as King Charles III listed all the plans his government intended to implement in the next twelve months. Opposition MPs often complain that his formal recital of controversial policies may create the impression that the king personally approves of all that “my government” will do.
Comments