The British press is making a big deal about how today marks the first “opening of Parliament” without the Duke of Edinburgh. One of Queen Elizabeth’s main duties – and one of the biggest appearances she makes throughout the year – is the opening of Parliament. She’s expected to show up in all of her regalia, wear a damn cape and the crown jewels, and give a speech on the prime minister’s agenda. For years now, the Queen has not worn the actual crown, which is quite heavy, too heavy for a 90-something Queen. She still has to bring the crown to Parliament, so it just sits on its own pillow while she speaks. Before his death, Philip had opted out of Parliament openings too – he had not attended them in years, and the Prince of Wales had been attending in his place. The Duchess of Cornwall also attends most of the time.
Because of the pandemic, this season’s Parliament opening was purposely subdued. The pomp was taken down several notches, and the Queen, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall opted for business-like outfits rather than gowns and tuxedos. The Queen wore a simple dress just below her knees, an embellished day coat and matching hat. Charles was, as always, impeccably turned out in a three-piece suit.
What was awful/funny about the opening is that members of Parliament, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall all wore masks… and the Queen didn’t. At this point?? We’re fifteen damn months into the pandemic and yes, vaccines are great and the Queen is vaccinated and good for her. But she should still wear a damn mask. The fact that she has refused to wear a mask for nearly the entire pandemic is a huge blemish on her record. She’s sending the signal to her country that she doesn’t give a sh-t about public health or role modeling good mask-wearing behavior. I can’t believe she’s STILL doing this.
Nice to see the Lord Great Chamberlain, David Rocksavage, wearing a mask as he handles the crown too. Wonder if his wife Rose Hanbury was there?
Photos courtesy of Getty, Avalon Red.
I am certain that the queen believes that she has a divine right to be maskless while those around her are safely masked. Or maybe she has a deathwish, now that Phillip is gone.
Seriously! She’s vaccinated, but she is still high risk due to age/ variants/ breakthrough infections. IIRC, most of the documented breakthrough infections were in the elderly.
Personally, I think at this point the queen just wants to pass away. She’s just hoping to catch the COVID and just leave this place. I have a strong suspicion that she is strongly advised to wear a mask but she just straight says “no way, I’m done with this man. I’ve lived 95 years and if I go, I am at peace with that”. Otherwise I just can’t find any other excuse or explanation for her refusal to wear a mask time after time after time.
Honestly, this is dark but I think there’s a lot of truth to it. My grandfather passed at 89, by that point the majority of his friends had gone, my grandmother had dementia and was in a nursing home (they had been married 70 years), etc. He was pretty with it mentally but he said to my mom once, “I’m ready. I’ve had a good life, a good family, I’m done.” I imagine that’s not an unusual sentiment for people who are that old and who have lost most of their peers.
I agree, Babs: the truth is she has worn a mask for her outings, I’ve rarely seen her without one, unless she’s at Windsor…she also moves in a very clean circle/bubble. But I do think she wants to just go…
I agree with that Liz is just tired and ready to say good-bye. That is why she is always maskless. I would not be surprised if she took in some deep breaths every so often.
At her age, she’s entitled not to wear one if she doesn’t want to since she’s vaccinated. I regret not letting my mom do what she wanted to do when she was alive. I didn’t let her do a lot of things for fear she would get sick. Guess what, old people will get sick anyway. Let them do what they want to do. It’s not worth the regrets you have later.
Not to defend Petty Betty (cuz y’all know I’m no fan of the BRF) but I wonder if she is starting to have some medical issues – my 98 year old grandfather has dementia and we can’t him to wear a mask. He freaks out, cries and just loses it any time we’ve tried.
Of course, she could also just be acting like the Petty B that we know her to be, but I wanted to offer a possible explanation based on my family’s experience with an elderly relative.
That could be it, but we did see her wear one at Phillip’s funeral less than a month ago.
I wonder if she didn’t want to wear one since she was giving a speech? But then she could have taken it off and put it back on.
I think it may be due giving a speech and the pictures for the history books because we never know when her last Opening of Parliament may occur.
This is what I was thinking – she didn’t wear one because she was giving a speech, and didn’t want to bother (“bother”) with taking a mask off and putting it on again.
TBH if I’m out I rarely take my mask off for any reason, it only comes off for good once I’m back home.
so as we’ve heard before, the optics are often more important to them than anything else. Sad.
omg wear the damn mask. Set an example.
Shallow note – I like the Queen’s dress and hat, and Camilla looks nice.
How awkward is this going to be if David Rocksavage has to do this when WIlliam is king, LOL (or if his son does it?)
(it alternates so I don’t think he’s going to be GLC during Charles’ reign.)
I love that hat.
Camilla looks quite nice! Loving that dress and wishing I could see her standing to get a full picture
The daily fail has a couple of nice snaps of Camilla standing, I really do like her style. Age-appropriate but fun and elegant.
Camilla does look good here.
Yes, sadly the role alternates between the Earl of Ancaster, the Marquess of Cholmondeley and the Earl Carrington for each reign, so Rocksavage’s heir would be GLC if George takes the throne.
Would still be awkward then!
Both of Rocksavage’s young sons are good looking and very adorable.
Charles’ suit is a morning suit
And doesn’t he always wear a morning suit? I don’t recall either him or Phillip wearing a tuxedo.
no he wears tuxedoes all the time to formal events, its just that sometimes he wears tails and sometimes he doesn’t.
And he looks very good in his morning suit.
I know this is about the queens speech but since you mentioned lord chamberlain (Roses husband) i cannot believe how well connected Rose actually is.
“Nice to see the Lord Great Chamberlain, David Rocksavage, wearing a mask as he handles the crown too. Wonder if his wife Rose Hanbury was there?”
No! Rose was not there as I am sure she is at Houghton Hall getting ready for the new summer art exhibit. I would love to see it.
Hope this link to an excellent article on this year’s exhibit is allowed: https://www.tatler.com/article/tony-cragg-houghton-hall-norfolk-summer-sculpture-exhibition
I didn’t think Rose was there. Like Kaiser said it was all very subdued due to covid and lets be honest, she’s not important enough for the proceedings to be there. But im just surprised at how well connected she and her husband seem to be. Even for aristocratic circles they seem to be quite high up.
@Cecilia – I believe that if this had been normal times without COVID-19 Rose would have been there as a peeress of the realm. Opening of Parliament seems to be a pretty big “do” as the Summer Social Season in London commences with the opening of Parliament in all the books I have read. Hopefully, a Britt CBer can chime in and fill in the details.
I have tickets to see it this summer and am honestly excited.
@Elvie – I am envious!!!
We demand a full report after your attendance!!!
@ BayTampaBay, that link of those sculptures are magnificent!! What a talent this sculptor has and at his age, they are truly remarkable!!
@Cecelia: Yes, she’s very high up; much higher than No-Account Katy, who has only moved “ahead” in the social stakes through marriage. Rose and the Turnip Toffs have zero time for Kate: she’s not one of them, and they’re not afraid to remind her–every. single. time :))
Thanks for that link; at every new pic i kept saying , “WOW!”
Not just the sculptures, that house is stunning.
And I love its description – one of Norfolk’s “four great power houses” – I’m going to assume Anmer isn’t one of those lol.
No, but Holkam Hall, childhood home of Lady “Anne Tennant” Glenconner is one of Norfolk’s “four great power houses”.
Norfolk’s “four great power houses”:
!. Blickling Hall – Marquess of Lothian – National Trust
2. Holkham Hall – Earl of Leicestershire
3. Houghton Hall – Marquess of Cholmondeley
4. Sandringham House – House of Petty
She thinks wearing a mask is beneath her, its her subjects that should be protecting her not the other way round. Or, maybe just maybe she’s looking to join Phil that wee bit sooner. I have to say I like Charles mask and Camilla looks fantastic in white!
She didn’t wear a mask, which she usually does, because she gave a speech and inside it was pretty socially distanced. The state opening should have happened last year but was postponed because of covid. Much more low key yesterday with no long dresses or tiaras of carriages.
She doesn’t wear a mask usually – I think we’ve seen her in one in public only a few times, once at Westminster Abbey and once for Prince Philip’s funeral. There may have been one other time but it’s not her usual practice.
Love the coat. The embellishments are gorgeous. Camilla is killing it in her coat and hat. Most modern thing I’ve seen her in in a long time.
Am surprised to see her without a mask indoors, especially around this many people. But she might have that YOLO attitude at her age.
At her age- I’m willing to be a bit cautious of automatically assuming she is choosing not to wear a mask. Especially as I am sure many have told her that the optics would be bad- considering they have crisis managers.
At her age she could have health issues which make wearing a mask challenging.
Though if that is the case the best option is to wear a face shield to at least encourage others to protect themselves and the community.
The fact is at her age she really shouldn’t be doing these things anymore… my grandma is her age and though her Health physically and mentally is quite good- I would be totally appalled if she were running a business in any capacity… the Queen would be better off passing everything on to Charles at this point.
I said at the time of the PP that it was curious that that was the one event for which they all decided to wear a mask, Queen included. Seems like we are right back to giving zero effs about everything.
She is a 94 year old widow with a hugely dysfunctional family. Maybe she just doesn’t give a flying fig anymore. Catching a virus may no longer be a concern but a blessing.
I’m sorry, what?!
Camille is looking pretty fabulous in that white suit (or is it a dress?) and hat.
I was coming here to say, Camilla looks great!
Agree 100% but I am not sold on Camilla’s shoe choice for style but the shoes look very comfy.
that’s what I was going to say and all I really noticed- how great Camilla looks. That hat is amazing.
I love both hats and they both look good! I love TQ’s embellished coat and Camilla’s outfit was a good choice and it looks good on her. I wish we wore hats like this in the US more, like the Brits. I would love to go out and wear a fabulous hat!!
My reaction too. That outfit is really flattering. She often has the best hats and brooches at royal occasions.
She does look quite stylish.
doesn’t she look stunning….looks like a dress. Fantastic. Well done old girl!! :))
If you can’t wear the crown, wear an awesome hat and that is an elaborate and beautiful hat.
Any identification on the brooches she is wearing?
While I think there truly is a mask out there for everyone – even people with breathing issues – it does not surprise me that she might have trouble wearing one. She’s 95. I am far younger than she is, and when I double mask, I have difficulty breathing even just while walking at a normal pace. The last thing she needs is to stumble or faint from lack of air intake. Although I am not thrilled at her unwillingness to mask, I can sorta give her a pass due to her age.
It is always a visual treat to see David Rocksavage–handsome devil that he is. 😉
Glad to know I am not the only one who has the hots for David Rocksavage.
Oh no, you are not alone. I find him SO attractive.
(Raising my glass) To the hot Lord Great Chamberlain! 😀
Kaiser & CB need to find an excuse to start a thread on Rose Gardening so we have an opportunity to dish on David Rocksavage and the gorgeous Houghton Hall.
I think he plays for the other team. He lives in Paris with his “friend” who was accused of scamming the Loreal billionaire lady out of loads of money.
I’ve heard the rumors. Still doesn’t change my opinion on him. He’s handsome and sophisticated no matter what team he’s playing for.
@BTB, Houghton Hall is exquisite. I could spend all day talking about their gardens alone.
@lanne – He is a switch-hitter that plays for both teams if what I have read is correct.
This does not bother me as I am sure Houghton Hall is large enough to accommodate all and everything!!! LOL! LOL!
@L84Tea – Would you please talk about the exquisite wallpaper too while you are presenting your lecture???
I hope you are referring to that beautiful chinoiserie in Rose’s bedroom? Sooo beautiful and classic.
Of course I am but I think the hand-painted reproduction wallpaper is actually in her private bathroom if the families private apartments.
I’m with BTB, he might be bisexual if he isn’t straight. Otherwise, he and Rose would have gotten married then pregnant via IVF. They wouldn’t have had a shotgun wedding because she was already 3 months pregnant with twins.
He is a very attractive older man , deeply established within the aristocracy and service to the crown and has an amazing historic estate and title. No way his youngish wife is going to give all that up to be Cain’s side chick. Is that still even a thing or has he been locked down and locked out on that front?
We have no idea what is and isn’t so that is why we keep talking about it! LOL!
It may be that Rose and Rocksavage are happy with their arrangement, have side partners when they want. And they both welcome William and whomever he is auditioning for Second Wife whenever he wants at Houghton. Only 15 minutes from Anmer.
“It may be that Rose and Rocksavage are happy with their arrangement,”
This is what I have always believed.
I’m guessing the Queen can’t put on and take off her mask by herself so she chose not to wear one.
These pictures sort of look like a fraternity hazing ritual for new pledges.
Also, what do her castles cost (please take a wild guess) and how many bathrooms in each? Cause that is important info that belongs in every article.
I know! I kept waiting to hear this urgent info
Lol.
She drank the Kool Aid and long, long time ago and truly believes the is ordained by God. #abolishthemonarchy
PREACH!
Camel toe looks nice,
She actually does and Chuck looks like he lost a little weight, looks less swollen in hands. They both have a bit of gravitas even if they’re a hot insecure mess behind the scenes. Meanwhile Will is off playing YouTube games in preparation to be king because that’s the future, not the actual job of statecraft..
She’s sitting far apart from everyone in her throne/chair. In this case, I don’t necessarily think a mask is an absolute must. I have the same feeling when I see politicians at a podium without their masks. The distance from reporters seems far enough.
It’s not like she’s partying it up in a club in a crowded space, which is what I seeing on Instagram and it is ticking me off. If she did that, then, yeah, I would see why there’s cause for concern.
I’m a pro-mask person but for politicians and heads of state I would assume they’re in consultation with doctors from their own countries who tell them what protocols they can and should follow at that particular moment.
I wonder if she’s not wearing a mask because her gloves might interfere with how it comes off. If she’s seen fumbling with the mask as she’s trying to put it on or off, I could honestly see it becoming a meme.
To add, she’s also wearing glasses. A photograph of her fogged up glasses while wearing a mask would likely become a meme too.
The world has been wearing glasses + masks for 14 months. We’ve all figured it out. She can too.
I think she knows how to. But I also think she’s got shutterbugs on her clicking on her at every single second. We don’t. She’s also around people who have most likely been vetted and tested to get the chance to be in the same room with her.
And I don’t see politicians wearing masks frequently either. If I saw every Head of State on the planet wearing a mask frequently, I’d understand the criticism. But all of them seem a bit lax about it and I think it’s understood they’re all being medically taken care of well by people making recommendations to them.
If I see any public figure at this level (with the exception of Trump), not just the Queen, my default assumption at this point in time (rather than early last year) is they’re likely to be fine (especially in the UK where their vaccination process has been faster and their current infection rate is lower).
She’s supposed to set an example, not set herself above the world population. I don’t respect any world leader or figurehead who doesn’t mask. Even at her age.
The Duke of Cantwaittobeking should be showing up at the things now. If he wants to be seen as the next king this is one of the few roles a monarch actually has
Charles begged the many different Prime Minster for YEARS to be allowed to attend the Opening of Parliament in some sort of “official” capacity with his mother.
I’ve given up on explaining why and how royals need to wear masks. I hear the “she may have health issues” but she’s also worn a mask in the past before so if she put one on coming into the place, took it off, then put it back on then I think that would be okay. Again I don’t know her medical history so it might not be actually.
Co-sign and agree with posters saying Camilla looks good. Agree with someone else above who says it’s unlikely Rose would be there because it was a scaled back event and Rose has no ceremonial/governing purpose there.
Is it true that they are introducing a voter ID law over there, so you need a drivers license or passport to cast a ballot? Very Trump playbook and completely unnecessary.
in UK they have a voting card. I come from an EU country where you go to vote with your ID or passport. I don’t have an issue with that but this is a strange situation in UK and it’s just by the Tory playbook. Stopping people from voting and it doesn’t look good at all.
It is true. Voter suppression mostly targeting the young and poor.
Yes, I think there was like one case of voter fraud in the UK, it’s pretty much a non-exsistant problem. But now Bojo is going to disenfranchise Black, Asian, and ethnic minorities by making photo ID compulsory. Also, studies show that labor voters are less likely to have photo ids than conservative voters.
Thats already in place in the Netherlands though.
I get sent a voter card, I turn up with the card&id and then get given a ballot.
I think it depends on a variety of factors.
In the US, the problem is that Republicans are pushing to require IDs at the polls, but then also doing things like closing the MVAs, the offices that provide you the state issued IDs, in predominantly minority areas, or areas with access to public transportation. so its not “just” the required ID (although that can be and is considered a poll tax by many), but its that the Rs are definitely trying to make it harder and more of a burden for minorities to get that ID, in the hopes that it will mean they can’t vote.
I would love to know the story about why she doesn’t wear a mask and the conversation around it. Does Angela Kelly offer to make a matching mask for her outfits? Do the comms people have regular debates about releasing info about it? Do her secretaries try to convince her to wear one? Does Charles weigh in? I have so many questions.
(And yes, as has been stated, Camilla looks fantastic. Call that woman Queen [consort]!)
They really should have handed the reigns over to Charles a decade ago, and just had Betty do the big ceremonial things. It’s ridiculous that he’s still in this position and in the background. Maybe some of the current problems they brought on themselves could have been avoided ( although that wouldn’t fix their racism).
I don’t like any of the senior royals now including Will and Kate. Charles won’t change I fear. He just threw Harry under a bus and let William take over. Lacey wrote that Charles just lets Will throw tantrums and shout at him. What sort of father does not return his own son’s phone calls. Can’t warm up to any of them. And it does not matter what they wear.
Camilla looks great.
The queen, Chuck and Camilla all look good. The ladies elegant and Chuck polished. Rose’s husband looks great too.
That’s why I think they’re desperate to cling to the monarchy. The people around the world take interest because of all the pomp and ceremony (not always lol) and these royals get to feel good once in a while that they’re superior than the peasants.
I’m sorry but I think it’s so gross that the BRF has a crown that no one can wear that just sits on a pillow that could likely subsidize enough food to feed a starving third-world country. So gross, just like everything related to these awful people.
This is one of the best looks I’ve seen on Camilla.
Can I point out that those heavy crown were actually taken from South Africa.
Just wanted to be petty for a little bit but seriously we need our jewels🤷🏿♀️
Yup
Respectfully, I disagree. I think not having to be judged when going out barefaced, should be a privilege of those who have been fully immunized. It reinforces confidence in the vaccines which are actually now proven to people from dying.
What an a-hole. Also, i kind of love Camilla’s hat.
I am LOVING their color coordination. Queenie in grey, Camilla in mainly white with the same grey for (large) accent, Charles in mainly black with white and the same grey as equal accents. It’s very cohesive and unified, without being uniform (read: boring).
And technically Queenie has her mother there with her aquamarine clip brooches, and it looks like Camilla is wearing the Queen Mother’s rock crystal brooch as well. UNIFIED.
The Queen unleashed!!!!! Phillip is dead. I cried a short while ( about a day) but its like you cant keep a good girl down and I’m moving on. I refuse to play Queen Victoria and wear those ugly black widows weeds for the rest of my life. I also refuse to wear those ugly gowns to open Parliment when I can be in bright colors looking like a silver fox. I owe it to the country to be bright and cheerful. I regret I married my first love when I could have waited and had any man in the world. So now I’m going to talk to Harry, see Andrew and do my own thing. And at 95 who can stop me. Meet me on the dance floor suckers. I love it.
I got a lot of stick for calling this out but she’s supposed to be setting an example! Well she is setting an example, a bad one.
And yes she was giving a speech but she could have taken it off when she sat down. And its not the first time that the royal family blatantly breaks covid rules.
Or jokes about spreading the virus and people being afraid they’ll die(William)
Also I was baffled to hear that she keeps someone hostage whilst making the speech.
The Queen dgaf about wearing a mask. As far as she’s concerned she doesn’t need to follow the rules.