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HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

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Messages to members of the Royal Family<br />

2.25 The congratulations or condolences of the House are<br />

communicated to a member of the Royal Family other than the<br />

Sovereign by a message, and not by an Address. In such a case certain<br />

members of the House are ordered to present the message, and one of<br />

them reports the answer. 1<br />

Address presented by the whole House<br />

2.26 On occasions of particular importance an Address may be<br />

presented by the whole House. Until 1897 (the diamond jubilee of<br />

Queen Victoria’s accession) such Addresses were presented at<br />

Buckingham Palace or another royal residence. Since then Addresses by<br />

the whole House have been presented, together with Addresses from<br />

the House of Commons, within the Palace of Westminster. Thus<br />

Addresses were presented in Westminster Hall to mark the 50th<br />

Anniversary of the end of World War II (1995) and the Queen’s Golden<br />

Jubilee (2002). 2<br />

2.27 After prayers on the day appointed for the presentation of the<br />

Address, the House proceeds to the designated place. The Lord Speaker<br />

and the Commons Speaker either lead their respective Houses or arrive<br />

with their processions after the members of both Houses are seated; in<br />

either case the Commons Speaker arrives first. Both Houses sit facing the<br />

Queen, the Commons on Her left and the Lords on Her right. As soon<br />

as the Queen has arrived, the Clerk of the <strong>Parliament</strong>s hands to the Lord<br />

Speaker the Lords’ Address, which the Lord Speaker reads and presents<br />

kneeling to the Sovereign. The Clerk of the Commons hands the<br />

Commons’ Address to the Speaker, who likewise reads and presents it.<br />

The Queen delivers Her reply to the Addresses and withdraws. The<br />

Lords withdraw followed by the Commons. The House then adjourns<br />

during pleasure and resumes its sitting later in the Chamber.<br />

Messages from the Crown<br />

2.28 Messages from the Crown are rare. They are formal<br />

communications relating to important public events that require the<br />

1 e.g. HL Deb. 13 July 2000 col. 379, 19 July 2000 col. 1003 (100th birthday of Her Majesty<br />

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother).<br />

2 LJ (1994–95) 387, LJ (2001– 02) 657.<br />

36

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