Staff Reports
King Charles addressed both houses of Parliament as monarch today. Both the House of Commons and House of Lords meet on important occasions like the Opening of Parliament or a visiting head of state.
We have a constitutional monarchy, not an absolute one. King Henry VIII made Parliament dominant. Parliament made legislation affecting all elements of public life in a few years. Even religious customs and doctrine were once under the church's supervision. This was done under the King's direction, but Parliament now rules England. 500 years later, Charles III visits Parliament.
In Parliament, King Charles thanked those for their condolences. He spoke on how history "reminds us of crucial Parliamentary traditions MPs and peers uphold." The Crown and Parliament united in sadness at the short ceremony.
The Queen will spend 96 hours at Westminster Hall in two days. She'll lie in state like the Queen Mother 20 years ago. The public can go past the coffin and pay respects. People will likely wait hours to see the Queen's casket.
The focus yesterday and today was on Scotland, where the Queen spent significant time. Her casket was at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the royal home in Scotland. Today she will proceed to St Giles Cathedral, where she will lie in state. Royals stand watch during the Vigil of the Princes.
This pomp and ceremony will seem unusual to anyone outside the UK. But these days show the British traditions. In good or bad, they make the British British. They unite the four UK kingdoms in mourning, solidarity, and nationality.
Then we look forward to the burial, when millions of loyal subjects and others will travel to London to witness the end of an era in Britain and the start of something new. King Charles' rule.
Adieu, king!
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on GATEWAY PUNDIT.
