Back in April, Prime Minister Theresa May made the surprising decision to hold a snap General Election on June 8, 2017. And the United Kingdom was left in a state of shock.
But the unanticipated announcment also left Queen Elizabeth II needing to make rearrangements.
Today, for the first time in 40 years, Her Majesty performed a ‘dressed-down’ State Opening of Parliament.
The Queen did not wear her Imperial State Crown or robes for the annual ceremony due to her royal plans having to be revised in the wake of the election.
Instead, for only the second time in her 65-year reign, Her Majesty donned ‘day dress’ and a hat as opposed to her 2.5 lb crown.
The first time there was such a pared back ceremony was back in March 1974, after Labour leader Harold Wilson defeated Edward Heath in a snap election.
The Queen's husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was also expected to dress down in a morning suit opposed to traditional uniform. However, the prince was absent from the ceremony due to being hospitalised overnight, as a precautionary measure following an infection.
Not only did Queen have to sacrifice her royal wardrobe but her mode of transport. Her Majesty swapped her prestigious gold carriage for a car due to the need for a reduced procession.
The Queen just brought a whole new meaning to 'dress-down Fridays'...
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