Parliament's unyielding doors

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33451, 5 February 1974, Page 1

Parliament's unyielding doors

•I | 1 fX.Z. Press Association— Copyright) I WELLINGTON, February 4. [ Ihe clockwork efficiency at the state opening of Parliament failed today when the Queen. Prince Philip, ' Princess Anne, and Captain Mark Phillips had to enter the Speaker's suite through a side door. Someone i had forgotten lo unlock the newly-inserted double doors leading into the redecorated Speaker’s sitting-room from the Parliamentary corridor. *

The Queen, Prince Philip, [Princess Anne and Captain [Phillips went through ;but Prince Charles noticed that by now one of the ; double doors had been I opened and disappeared through it. i "I’ll use the proper door,” he told his parents. According to the official procedure the Queen was to have been received by her New Zealand secretary, the Royal visit director (Mr P. ;J. O’Dea). But he was behind [the Queen at the time. Earlier there had been an-1 [other mishap in proceedings. For the first time in the New Zealand Parliament’s history Black Rod had to knock twice before being admitted to the locked House of Representatives to summon members to | the council chamber. Because the Queen had ar-! rived at Parliament about; two minutes early the schedule was disrupted and Wing Commander Innes-Jones arrived at the House doors beifore members were ready. Black Rod knocked first when members were milling

The Queen had just .[taken a Royal Salute at I the head of the main steps after opening [Parliament and was being led down the corridor, lined with photographs of former Prime Ministers, by Black Rod Wing Commander M. H. S. Innes-Jones. Wing Commander Innes-Jones !muttered to a couple of elderly Parliamentary messengers that there was no-one there to meet the Queen. One of the messengers huririedly — and unsuccessfully — tried to open the double i doors, much to the amusement of the Queen and the iDuke, and then ducked 'through a side door to open I them from the inside. Nothing happened, and;’ I after much rattling of the I; idoors from the inside, the 1 ; [Duke said to the Queen: ["Here’s an open door.” ’

,their seats in oppressive con-! editions caused by hot television lighting, the Prime! [Minister (Mr Kirk) handed; i!the Queen the traditional [Speech from the Throne and; '[for the next 2!) minutes the; ’nation learned the Govern-! iment’s plans for this second, 'session of the thirty-seventh; [Parliament. . After the Queen had [finished the reading she left 'the chamber with other mem-; ibers of the Royal Family and, [stood at the top of the main; [steps for a second Royal) Salute. [ She then . moved to the' Speaker’s suite to meet heads; 'of diplomatic and consular [missions. Commonwealth [mission heads later had their; [photograph taken with The! [Queen. The party returned to [the Legislative Chamber to [meet members and their [wives. [ The Queen’s final duty before leaving Parliament about ’. '4.30 p.m. was to preside over; [a meeting of the Executive; 'Council.

. around in the chamber waiti ing for the Speaker (Mri i Whitehead) to say prayers. [. I No-one heard him and no- ; one could see him through [ ! the door because a curtain ‘ was drawn. Wing-Commander Innes-; 1 ’[Jones had to wait for the prayer to be completed bel fore his second knock was! > heard. About 2500 people were in; : Parliament grounds to see thef . Royal Family arrive for the' I Queen’s fourth Stale opening; of the New Zealand Parlia-j ment. i The Queen was dressed for-, ’ mally in white silk with gold - I and silver embroidery, her' : diamond fringe tiara, dia-i; : mond necklace and diamond;; ■ ear-rings. Princess Anne was , II in cream silk and wearing [i [the Queen’s wedding present' ■ — an aquamarine and dia- , ,;mond tiara. The Duke of Edinburgh, ' ; Prince Charles and Captain : Phillips were all in service I uniforms. < A trumpet fanfare sounded 1 as the Royal Party left their cars. 1

The same group of Maori, i demonstrators who appeared 'at Oriental Bay yesterday' were in the grounds today; [and they hoisted a banner—j [“You are Queen and Head of' [white New Zealand only” —[ as the Queen mounted the. steps of Parliament buildings. The Royal Party paused’ [when they reached the middle! [landing on the steps and lwere given a Royal Salute by j 'the Royal New Zealand Air; 'Force guard of honour and iband, and a 21-gun artillery, isalute from Point Jerningham. The Queen entered Parlia-' ‘ment Buildings and walked [through the members’ billiard (room between tiers of invited! guests who viewed later pro-; Iceedings on closed-circuit! [television. The Queen took her place, on the Throne with Prince. Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne to the side and slightly behind her. Captain; Phillips, as an honorary aide-de-camp to the Queen, stood behind the Royal Party. Once the members of Par-> liament had arrived and taken.