Steps of the Throne

Francis Plowden has commented about privileges at the Palace of Westminster extended to the children of peers. The last word goes to the website, Parliament.uk:

1.59 The following may sit on the steps of the Throne:

· members of the House of Lords in receipt of a writ of summons, including those who have not taken their seat or the oath and those who have leave of absence;

· members of the House of Lords who are disqualified from sitting or voting in the House as Members of the European Parliament or as holders of disqualifying judicial office;[59]

· hereditary peers who were formerly members of the House and who were excluded from the House by the House of Lords Act 1999;[60]

· the eldest child (which includes an adopted child)[61] of a member of the House (or the eldest son where the right was exercised before 27 March 2000);[62]

· peers of Ireland;

· diocesan bishops of the Church of England who do not yet have seats in the House of Lords;

· retired bishops who have had seats in the House of Lords;

· Privy Counsellors;

· Clerk of the Crown in Chancery;

· Black Rod and his Deputy;

· the Dean of Westminster.

It is pleasing that the rights of Irish Peers have been enshrined; however, Francis and I are not eligible to sit on the steps.