Black Rod has the door slammed in his face, 2009

This video includes the door of the House of Commons being slammed on the face of Black Rod (the Queen's representative) to symbolise the independence of the elected House of Commons from the monarchy. This ritual is derived from what happened when the attempt by Charles I to arrest five MPs in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege. After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they can not bar him from entering with lawful authority.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Queen's Speech
• Parliament
• Freddie Viggers
• State Opening of Parliament
• Elizabeth
• II
• of
• the
• United
• Kingdom

[Medeasbiggestfan]

@prowlifik

Everybody knows the UK has a far more tolerant society than the US.

[Medeasbiggestfan]

@prowlifik

'...not once but twice'. So the first time was the War of Independence, when was the second time? Surely you don't mean the War of 1812, when the US invaded Canada unprovoked, a war which resulted in US gaining no land and losing its capital city? Do US schools really teach that to be a victory?

[SwordInAir]

Respect to Skinner for not standing up. The monarchy displaying here it's a waste of valuable time as well as money.

[ilikemike2436]

As an American I very much respect the history of this ceremony .

[Medeasbiggestfan]

@expostfactum

The British destroyed Washington DC and turned back the US invasion of Canada. That sounds like a victory to me.

[expostfactum]

@Medeasbiggestfan Most people think of the war of 1812 as being a victory because of the battle of New Orleans, where the British were beaten like ugly red headed step children....thing is, that battle occurred after a truce had already been made...It was still an ass whipping like no other!

[expostfactum]

@Medeasbiggestfan yes they do...and they are starting to really regret that now with whats going on over there.

[GCmediacourse]

1:48 you can see the door has been damaged by the rod

[DG6985]

Didn't know Jack Straw was once lord chancellor, and hes my town MP

[MrOhjames]

This guy was really into the role!!

[mbygg1]

that skinner chap really is an oik

[HalfBathBlog]

thats the best knock ive seen in a few years, real solid hits lol

[tr1ckydr1v3r]

@nrjelley fair enough, but if they don't do something, then eventually the door will just give way.

[nrjelley]

@tr1ckydr1v3r no because it is apart of history and tradition!

[nrjelley]

Im surprised Huw didn't pick up on the fact that the throne is made of Welsh gold! =)

[ImNannyOgg]

@prowlifik Further to my last post, my American husband laughed out loud at this comment. I've never seen such an unequal society as the States, soo many people in genuine slums and poverty, houses made out of clapboard that fall down at the slightest wind, US flags everywhere...are you so insecure that you all need to keep reminding yourselves 'yes, we ARE proud Americans' just in case you forget. As they say, slap the word American on the front of a product and the suckers will fall for it LOL

[ImNannyOgg]

@prowlifik Lol what an idiot you are...everyone except for Americans (my husband excepted, who lives in the Uk and hopes never to return to the US) knows that you are widely regarded as a worldwide joke. You're fed propaganda by your govt which you all willingly believe, poor, poor uneducated people. Controlled and completely brainwashed by the US govt. Wake up and realise how backward you are regarded to be by any developed country..fat, brainwashed and backwards. I feel sorry for you.

[ChristiaanMurk]

@tr1ckydr1v3r

Probably not.

[tr1ckydr1v3r]

Are they ever gonna repair that bloody damage to the door that the knocking causes every year?

[baraxor]

The Palace of Westminster is a Royal Palace, so the House of Commons chamber is not "owned" by its members. However, the right of freedom of debate granted to the Commons by the Monarch (through the Speaker elected at a new Parliament) means that neither the Monarch nor her servants can intrude on the business in the House, which is why the doors are shut to Black Rod...he can't just barge in on their deliberations, even in the name of the Queen.

[Medeasbiggestfan]

@prowlifik

The UK blocked maritime trade because the US was supporting Napoleon I (the French dictator) with whom the British Empire was at war.

While fighting the US, the UK defeated Napoleon, after which the British didn't care about blocking trade. If there had been no war in the Americas, the UK would have still stopped the blockade in 1814.

The UK lost 5,000 men as a result of the war, the US lost 20,000, not to mention countless slaves who escaped to freedom in Canada and Britain.

[prowlifik]

@Medeasbiggestfan the reason why we invaded canada was because its mother country was was cutting off our maritine trade with the rest of the world and yes it was a victory for us because we where able to achive our goal of restoring our maritine trade with the rest of the world, britain burned the white house occupied washington dc and still lost. look it up, everytime britain has crossed the atlantic with war on its mind we sent them back across limping.

[prowlifik]

@Medeasbiggestfan everybody knows the us is far from sexist. we are the land of opportunity i dont think britain can say the same.