By Marisa Laudadio
11:30am PST, Jan 5, 2024
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Take a look at the best photos from the first State Opening of Parliament of King Charles III's reign, starting with this image…
Queen Camilla — wearing the George IV State Diadem — listened as husband King Charles III read the King's speech in the House of Lords chamber during the State Opening of Parliament — the first of his reign — at the Houses of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
The tiara is perhaps the most recognizable diadem ever worn by her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, during her 70-year reign. Elizabeth wore this sparkler, also known as the Diamond Diadem, for the first time in public at her own first State Opening of Parliament in 1952 when she was a new queen but before her coronation, as well as on the carriage journey to most State Openings of Parliament before exchanging it for the Imperial State Crown inside. The diadem is also seen on her head on British and Commonwealth coinage, banknotes and postage stamps.
Keep reading for more photos…
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Queen Camilla — wearing the George IV State Diadem — listened as husband King Charles III read the King's speech in the House of Lords chamber during the State Opening of Parliament — the first of his reign — at the Houses of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
According to the Royal Collection Trust, the tiara is set with 1,333 diamonds including a 4-carat yellow brilliant stone in the center of the front cross. Its band is set with pearls. Its four crosses alternate with four sprays that represent the national emblems of three of the U.K.'s four countries: roses for England, shamrocks for Northern Ireland and thistles for Scotland.
The piece was originally made for the coronation of King George IV in 1820.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla sat on gilded thrones at the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
The monarch read the King's speech — which sets out the government's agenda for the 2023-2024 session, outlining proposed policies and legislation — during the visit, which marked his first Parliament opening as monarch.
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King Charles III — accompanied by Queen Camilla — prepared to read the King's speech at the State Opening of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
It marked the first State Opening of Parliament to take place during Charles's reign.
He wore the Imperial State Crown and Camilla donned the George IV State Diadem for the first time. She also re-wore her Bruce Oldfield-designed coronation gown.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla traveled from London's Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach — past protestors from an anti-monarchy group — on their way to the State Opening of Parliament, which marked Charles's first as monarch, on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III, wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State, and Queen Camilla, wearing the George IV State Diadem, arrived for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament in London on Nov 7, 2023.
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Here's a detail shot of the hem of the Bruce Oldfield coronation gown that Queen Camilla re-wore during the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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The Imperial State Crown was transported down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament in a horse-drawn carriage on its way to the State Opening of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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Queen Camilla wore the Diamond Diadem made for King George IV by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell in 1820 and the Coronation Necklace made by Garrard for Queen Victoria in 1858 as she traveled down The Mall in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament in London to attend the State Opening of Parliament on Nov. 7, 2023.
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Queen Camilla — wearing the Diamond Diadem made by jewelers Rundell, Bridge and Rundell in 1820 — traveled down The Mall in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach from the Houses of Parliament back to Buckingham Palace after attending the state opening of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the State Opening of Parliament — his first as monarch — in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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Queen Camilla is helped with the train of her re-worn coronation gown as she arrived for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla chatted with officials as they left the State Opening of Parliament — his first as monarch — in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the State Opening of Parliament — his first as monarch — in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III, wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State, and Queen Camilla, wearing the George IV State Diadem, arrived for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament in London on Nov 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla sat on gilded thrones at the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
The monarch read the King's speech — which sets out the government's agenda for the 2023-2024 session, outlining proposed policies and legislation — during the visit, which marked his first Parliament opening as monarch.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla departed from London's Buckingham Palace and headed to the Palace of Westminster in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach on their way to the State Opening of Parliament, which marked Charles's first as monarch, on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla departed from London's Buckingham Palace and headed to the Palace of Westminster in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach on their way to the State Opening of Parliament, which marked Charles's first as monarch, on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the Sovereign's Entrance to Westminster Palace ahead of the State Opening of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla prepared to depart following the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords Chamber in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla departed the Houses of Parliament after attending the State Opening of Parliament in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
