House of Lords Condolences on the Separation of Charles Prince of Wales and Diana Princess of Wales

Описание: The House of Lords conducts a brief debate on the announcement from Buckingham Palace about the separation of HRH the Prince and the Princess of Wales, on 9th December 1992.

Footage courtesy the Parliamentary Recording Unit. I have increased the volume. Follow along in Hansard: https://api.parliament.uk
/historic-hansard/lords/1992/dec/09/the-prince-and-princess-of-wales

With the vast majority of Ministers sitting in the Commons, most Statements in the Lords are repeats of Statements made in the Commons, which are read by the relevant Minister. Here, the Statement is a repeat of a Commons Statement which itself includes a repeat of a Statement from Buckingham Palace. The Lord High Chancellor reads this statement 'in view of the constitutional importance of the Statement', as Lord Wakefield (the Leader of the House) said earlier in the day: https://api.parliament.uk
/historic-hansard/lords/1992/dec/09/business I suppose this underlines the quasi-apolitical aspect that the office of Lord High Chancellor used to have, before the Constitutional Reform Act's reforms.

Please note Lord Mackay of Clashfern is a strict Sabbatarian, so please do not watch his parts on a Sunday.

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh were, at this time, members of the House. While I can understand why neither of them would want to speak here, I also find it interesting that the Lord Chamberlain does not speak, or even repeat the Statement here.

For a recording of the Prayers mentioned by the Lord High Chancellor at 7:18, please see this recording:    • Parliamentary Prayers taken by the Lord Bi...  

00:00 Start of Recording (interruption of a debate on Hong Kong and China)
00:04 Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (Lord Mackay of Clashfern, HM Government, Conservative)
02:45 Lord Richard (Official Opposition, Labour)
03:30 Lord Wyatt of Weeford (Crossbench) interjects
03:40 Lord Jenkins of Hillhead (Leader of the Liberal Democrats)
04:05 Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (Lord Mackay of Clashfern, HM Government, Conservative)
04:14 Lord Archbishop of York
07:08 Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (Lord Mackay of Clashfern, HM Government, Conservative)
08:10 Baroness Hylton-Foster (Convenor of the Crossbenchers)
08:30 Baroness Blackstone (Labour) continues the Debate