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Japanese visits to the Palace of Westminster in the Parliamentary Archives

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Group of 5 men on the House of Commons Terrace. All wearing suits and some carrying bowler hats. The Prince is middle, looking solemn, holding a hat. Teeling is second left, smiling, the tallest of the five.

By Mari Takayanagi, Senior Archivist Following the recent State Visit to the UK by the Emperor and Empress of Japan, this blog looks at historic visits to Parliament by members of the Japanese royal family and other Japanese dignitaries, as …

Jane Julia Bennett, Keeper of the Keys of the House of Lords

Painting showing monarch on throne and Lords assembled in grand space with high ceilings and large paintings on wall

Guest blog by Dr Elizabeth Hallam Smith Jane Julia Bennett, née Wright, Deputy Housekeeper and then Housekeeper to the House of Lords, holds a remarkable place in the history of Parliament.  For she was the only woman to occupy a …

Snatched from the Flames: John Bellamy’s Account Book

A volume open to show burned, scorched handwritten pages

Guest blog by Dr Elizabeth Hallam Smith In June 2023 Parliament celebrates 250 years since the opening of the famous Bellamy’s Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms, which from 1773 to 1851 comprised Parliament's main catering outfit.  Here MPs, peers and their …

Pasting the Proclamation: Helen Fox and Barbara Duval

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A woman pastes a Proclamation poster onto a wall, on top of another poster titled Hackney Carriages. Another women stands nearby with a bunch more posters,.

By Mari Takayanagi, Senior Archivist The Parliamentary Archives recently acquired a wonderful new suffragette photograph! It shows suffragettes from the Women's Freedom League (WFL) pasting a Proclamation on a board advertising Hackney Carriage Prices. The two women are Barbara Duval …

Leek, Thistle, Shamrock and Rose: Symbols of the UK and the Elizabeth Tower

Colour photograph of decorative shield on the exterior of the Palace of Westminster.

The Elizabeth Tower and the Palace of Westminster are decorated with beautiful and symbolic imagery – representing the values, history, and identity of UK Parliament. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the national plant emblems on …