State Opening of Parliament

Each year these purses containing the King or Queen's speech are carried by the Chancellor of the time.  Until it is read out by the monarch the speech remains secret.  

This purse belonged to 1st Earl of Hardwick who was Chancellor from 1737 to 1750.
Some rather strange faces peer out from the purse.

Today at Wimpole Estate was the busiest I have ever seen it.  I.look.forward to seeing how many people went through the house!  Final number 850.