Elizabeth II, absent from the opening of the British Parliament for the first time in almost 60 years


In the ceremony of opening of the british parliamentthe queen’s speech and his presence is a symbol of continuity. On this occasion, however, it was the ceremony of change. For the first time, Charles, Prince of Waleshas assumed the central role and has replaced Elizabeth II, who at 96 has, according to Buckingham sources, “mobility problems.” When reading the plans for the next legislature, some last-minute modifications had to be introduced. Instead of “my Government”, the usual formula used by the sovereign, Carlos referred to the “Government of His Majesty”.

The prince did not wear State Dressesnot even imperial crown, which remained deposited on a red velvet cushion. She also did not occupy the throne that his mother usually uses. That space was empty. The monarch remains the head of state. Only on two previous occasions in her 70-year reign did Isabell II not read her speech. It happened during the pregnancy of her son Andrés, in 1959and Edward, in 1963. On both occasions the reading was left to the Lord Chancellor, but significantly not on this occasion.

The Prince of Wales read with the slow and serious voice that characterizes him the purposes of the Government of Boris Johnson. In the most relevant constitutional role of those played so far by the 73-year-old heir, he was accompanied by his wife, Camila, called to become Queen consort, seated at his right, and by the firstborn son, the duke Of Cambridge, on the opposite side. Was the first time that the prince William, who is also called to be a king one day, attended this solemn act. symbolic presence of relay and continuity at the same time in British monarchy, which is in a period of transition. The transformation, slow but unstoppable, will imply assuming greater responsibilities for the future monarch from now on.

Legislation against the protocol

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Politically, the proposals put forward by Prince Charles contained a reference to the need to protect the Good Friday Agreement in North Ireland. Although they did not include specific legislation to repeal the Brexit protocol, the British media insist that London is preparing a bill to that effect. This Tuesday The Times announced that the Foreign Minister, Liz Truss, considers it useless to continue trying to negotiate a reform with the European Union. Truss could present as early as next week the draft of new legislation, allowing remove mandatory checks on goods shipped from Britain to be used in Northern Ireland.

The Unionist Party (DUP), second force after the Sinn Fein in the recent regional elections, the shared government of the province has been suspended since February and refuses to resume it until the protocol is modified. In a conversation with the Irish Prime Minister, Michael MartinJohnson crossed out that formula of the Brexit of “untenable”. “The balance of the Good Friday Agreement is in danger and the recent elections have shown once again that the protocol is untenable in its current form.” If we take this unilateral step, Brussels can respond with trade sanctionsapplying even stricter controls that make it impossible to sell some British products, such as fish, on European markets.


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