For the first time in 66 years, a reigning Queen opened Britain's Parliament. Crowds were already thronging Parliament Square and Buckingham Palace gate under chill skies two hours before the ceremonies began.
It was 10:30 a.m. when Elizabeth II, clad in a pale gold evening dress and white ermine cloak, at last emerged from the palace and entered the Irish State Coach. Breastplated household cavalrymen rode ahead, scarlet outriders trotted alongside as the Queen was borne to Westminster through wave after wave of band music and past a United Press photographer who got a memorably radiant picture...
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