Earlier this month as students returned to school and college for the start of the new academic year, MPs too left their constituencies to return to Parliament after recess. Our first task was to welcome our new Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Days after the appointment of the Prime Minister, we heard the news of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s death – a moment many of us will remember for the rest of our lives.
Over the years we had received several visits from Her Majesty. Firstly, visiting Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket in 1961, as part of a tour of Suffolk. In 1985, she met with aircrew at Wattisham Airfield and was entertained by pupils from Ringshall Primary School. As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations her Majesty and Prince Philip visited Stowmarket again where they saw exhibitions celebrating Suffolk’s agricultural heritage, and more recently in 2009, they visited Bury St Edmunds for the annual Maundy service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
As we mourn the death of Her Majesty - something that many constituents have told me has affected them deeply - the tributes in Parliament have been moving and showed a monarch who time after time could put an individual at their ease with a comment or a gesture. Her grasp of current affairs over the 70 years was much remarked upon, especially by those that had enjoyed weekly audiences with her. With the accession of King Charles III, the role of the monarchy, its stability and diplomacy endure.
Parliaments links to the monarchy have been displayed clearly this week and for me it has been especially poignant. Early in the week I was honoured to be appointed as Vice Chamberlain of HM Household by the Prime Minister, a role that is steeped in history and custom and, as with all government appointments it was approved by the Palace and for me by her Majesty.
One of the Vice Chamberlain’s main duties is to compile a daily private report to the Sovereign on proceedings in the House of Commons and to relay addresses from the Commons to the Sovereign and back. The role acts, in a small way as a bridge between Parliament and the Royal Household. On my appointment I thought I would be writing to Elizabeth II our late Queen but as events happen my first missive will be to His Majesty the King.
Having had the honour of taking part in many commemorative events, including the procession to Wellington Arch and to St George’s Chapel, my sympathies are with the King and the Royal Family who have continued to show strength and leadership during this time of great personal loss.
Politics
