Social media users were today left baffled by the role of Black Rod during the State Opening of Parliament as the official followed hundreds of years of tradition by banging on the door of the House of Commons before demanding MPs' presence in the Lords.Sarah Clarke, who is the first woman to hold the role since taking over from Lieutenant-General David Leakey in 2018, performed her customary duties before - sitting beside - read 's Speech in absence of his mother.However, after being allowed into the Commons after banging three times on the door with her ceremonial rod, her words this time were slightly different to those uttered in nearly every previous year of the Queen's reign.
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