The State Opening of 1875

This summary of the 1875 State Opening records the moment when Black Rod is sent to summon members of  the House of Commons to the House of Lords.  As a mark of the independence of  the Commons the door to the Commons Chamber is symbolically slammed in his face and only opened after he has knocked on it with his staff of office. The Members of the House of Commons then follow their Speaker and Black Rod to the Lords Chamber and stand behind the Bar (at the opposite end of the Chamber from the Throne) to hear the Queen's Speech.