The Parliamentary Opening Book

This is an embossed book which contains a copy of the order of proceedings for the opening of Parliament of Northern Ireland in Belfast City Hall on June 22, 1921

On the outside of the blue embossed cover is a series of icons and decorations.

There are two shields with the outstretched right hand depicted in the top corners. In the bottom left is a saltire and in the bottom right a Shamrock with a Crown on top.

At the bottom of the embossed decoration is a representation of the Coat of Arms of the City of Belfast with the city motto  "Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus"

At the top of the embossed design is the Royal Crown and the legend “God Save The King”.

The King’s Coat of Arms is placed centrally above the Title of the book which reads:

 “Opening of the Parliament of Northern Ireland by His Most Gracious Majesty King George V June 22, 1921”

To the left of the Title is an Irish Harp, again with a Crown motif, and on the right hand side of the Title is an Irish Elk.

On the first interior Page is a hand drawn and coloured representation of the same design, as depicted embossed on the outside of the book cover.

The next page contains a decorated version of the Royal Court of Arms and the following a dedication

“Visit to Belfast 

of 

Their Most Gracious Majesties  

King George V 

and 

Queen Mary 

22 June 1921”

The first page in the commemorative booklet details “Arrival in Belfast“

It states as follows

“The Royal Yacht “Victoria and Albert“ with their Majesties on board will be escorted by: –“

This then sets out the two Battleships, two Light Cruisers, the Flotilla Leader, and eight Destroyers of the Second Flotilla which were to accompany the Royal Yacht into Belfast Lough.

It indicates here that “The Royal Yacht will reach Belfast Lough during the morning of June 22, 1921.

His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will be invited to proceed on board the Royal yacht”

It is indicated that shortly before their Majesties land the Commissioners of the Belfast Harbour Board “will be summoned to proceed on board the Royal yacht and deliver an address to their Majesties.”

Landing at Donegall Quay

The Itinerary sets out that the King and Queen, attended by various Officials, will land at Donegall Quay at 11:30 am.

It indicates that they would be received on landing by the Lord Lieutenant together with other Dignitaries.

It is set out that a Guard of Honour of the Royal Irish Constabulary (with band) will be mounted on the Quayside.

The King was to Inspect the Guard of Honour.

The document sets out various detachments of local Youth Organisations to be furnished to be presented to the Royal Party at the Quayside.

As soon as the Royal Standard was broken on the Quay a Royal Salute of 21 Guns was to be fired by the 32nd Battery R. F. A.

The Procession from Donegall Quay

Details of the Procession marshals are laid out

The description of various Dignitaries in the accompanying group of Marshals and Escort records the precise Dress of those dignitaries who were to accompany the position whilst Mounted on Horseback.

The First Carriage in the Procession was stipulated to have Four Grey horses and would convey the King, The Queen, The Lord Lieutenant, and the Minister in Attendance to City Hall.

A Second Carriage, again with Four grey horses was to follow with four other Dignitaries.

It is set out at the Procession would proceed from the Quay “at a walking pace”.

It is set out that the Procession would have been followed by a number of Dignitaries conveyed to The City Hall by means of a number of motor cars laid on to convey a number of other dignitaries and staff.

The route from Donegal Quay is set out as via: –

Albert Memorial,

High Street, 

Castle Place, 

Donegal Place, 

Donegal Square North.

It is set out that the route from Donegal Quay to the City Hall would be lined by a number of Troop attachments and that Bands would be stationed at various points along the Route.

Arrival at the City Hall

It laid out that Their Majesties would Arrive at the City Hall at 11:50 am to be Received by a Guard of Honour of the Royal Ulster Rifles with Band.

The King and Queen were to be Received by the Lord Mayor of Belfast William F Coates D.L., the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Sir James Craig, and a number of other Dignitaries.

It was indicated that the King would Inspect the Guard of Honour before proceeding inside the City Hall.

On the Arrival of the King and Queen inside the City Hall building the State trumpeters were to Sound a flourish.

A Bouquet was to be jointly presented, by three children, to the Queen.

A list of Members of the Belfast Corporation in the Robes of Office were then to be presented to Their Majesties by the Lord Mayor.

The King and Queen having been presented to the Corporation Officials were to proceed up the Central Staircase in City Hall to the First Floor

At the Head of the  staircase The Sword of State was to be tendered by the Lord Lieutenant to the King, who was to return it to the Lord Lieutenant for safe keeping.

The King and Queen, attended as before, but preceded by the Lord Lieutenant, carrying the Sword of State, were to be conducted, then, into the Lord Mayor's Parlour.

Ceremony of the Opening of Parliament Northern Ireland

At 12:30 pm Black Rod was to announce to the Lord Lieutenant that Members of the Senate and the House of Commons were duly assembled and that the Lord Lieutenant should convey that information to Their Majesties.

A Procession of the assembled Dignitaries was then to occur to the Chamber.

Those forming the Procession are set out over two pages with the Lord Lieutenant at the front followed by The King, The Queen and then all of the following Dignitaries.

The State Trumpeters were to Announce the arrival of the Procession in the Senate House by sounding a flourish of trumpets.

Their Majesties were to be conducted to their Throne.

The following Officials were to take up their Positions on the steps of the Throne to the left and right.

The remainder of the Officials formed in the Procession with the exception of Black Rod were to group themselves on either side of the throne

Black Rod was to be commanded to Summon the Commons, and, on their Arrival, Prayers were to be Read.

At the conclusion of Prayers The Speech by the King was to be handed to His Majesty.

The King standing and covered, was then to read the Speech.

At the conclusion of the reading a Speech a Royal salute of 21 Guns was to be Fired by the Ships forming  the Naval Escort and by the 32nd R. F. A.

State Trumpeters were also to sound a flourish.

Their Majesties where to leave the Throne and were to be conducted to the Lord Mayor’s Parlour by the Procession -  as before.

It is set out formally as to the proper Dress for Officials, Members and Ladies attending the Ceremony.

The Luncheon

An official Luncheon was to be given by the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in the Great Hall of City Hall at 1 pm.

There were to be more than 400 guests to be seated before the arrival of the Royal Party. Once they had been seated,  the King and Queen, conducted by the Prime Minister, James Craig, would then proceed to their places.

The State Trumpeters were to sound a flourish to announce the approach of their Majesties and all Guests in the Hall were to Rise..

Grace was to be said by the Primate of All Ireland.

The Band of the Royal Ulster Rifles was to play a selection of music during the Luncheon.

A flourish of trumpets by the state trumpeters would announce the rising of the Prime Minister to propose the King's health.

At the conclusion of the Luncheon Their Majesties were to be conducted as before to the Lord Mayor’s Parlour.

Visit to the Ulster Hall

At 2:30 pm the King and Queen were to leave the City Hall, for the Ulster Hall.

As before the First Carriage, led by Four Grey Horses conveyed the King, the Queen, the Lord Lieutenant and the Minister in Attendance.

As before the Second Carriage followed, with various other Members of the Royal and viceregal Household following in motor cars.

The Guard of Honour which received the King and Queen on arrival at City Hall, was to be mounted on their Departure for the Ulster Hall.

The route to be taken to Ulster Hall from City Hall was to be via:

Donegall Square North 

Donegall Square West 

Bedford Street

On arrival at the Ulster Hall the King and Queen were to be received by James Sir James Craig and a number of his Ministers.

A Guard of Honour of the Ulster Special Constabulary was present at the Entrance of the Ulster Hall with The Band of the Royal Irish Constabulary also in attendance.

The King was to inspect the Guard of Honour before being conducted inside to the Dais by a procession of Dignitaries.

On the arrival of the King and Queen in the body of the Hall, State Trumpeters  were to sound a  flourish and the National Anthem was to be played on the great Organ with the assembled company rising and singing the First and Last Verses of the National Anthem

Presentation of Addresses

The Lord Mayor of Belfast was to present a Loyal Address from the Lord Mayor, Corporation and Citizens of Belfast to be read by the Town Clerk.

Deputations of each of those Churches, Corporations, Councils, Authorities, Societies and Associations of Ulster (shown elsewhere in the document) where then to hand Addresses to his Majesty.

At the conclusion of the Presentation of Addresses the King was to read a general Reply.

At the conclusion of the whole proceedings State  Trumpeters were to sound a flourish ahead of the National Anthem being played on the Organ - and the assembled company were to join in singing. The King and Queen were to be conducted down the centre of the Hall by Procession to the Royal Carriage

The procession from the Ulster Hall back to Donegal Quay

This  was then directed to proceed at a walking pace via:

Bedford Street

Dublin Road,

Shaftesbury Square

Great Victoria Street

Howard Street

Donegall Square West

Donegall Square North

Donegal Place

Castle Place

High Street

To the Donegal Quay where Their Majesty‘s would embark for the Royal Yacht

The Royal Party was to meet and inspect a Guard of Honour at the Quayside - and as the Royal Standard on Donegall Quay was struck, a Royal Salute of 21 guns was to be fired by the 32nd battery RFA.

Appendix number 1 to the document sets out the Ceremonial to be observed at the Ulster Hall

Appendix number 2 to the document sets of the Churches, Corporations, Councils, Authorities, Societies and Associations presenting Addresses in the Ulster Hall 

Appendix 3 sets out General Committees Executive committees and Subcommittee Members in Attendance.

Appendix No. 4 sets are the Names of all Persons mentioned in the Program with direction as to which Page within the Program they are mentioned.