Just arrived back in my office after watching the Queen's speech from the chamber .Black Rod did the customary three knock’s on the door of the chamber after it was slammed in his face. He then marched up to the mace and announced that the Queen requested the presence of MPs in the house of peers, turned on his heel and marched back towards the door – at which point Dennis Skinner MP shouted out “Is Helen Mirren over there as back up”. Dennis, whose views on Royalty are well known, does not do as Her Majesty requests!