Why does Black Rod knock on the door of the UK House of Commons? During the State Opening of Parliament, a House of Lords official known as Black Rod is sent to the Commons to summon MPs to hear the King’s Speech in the Lords chamber. The doors to the Commons chamber are shut in her face, a custom dating back to the Civil War, symbolising the Commons’ independence from the monarchy. Black Rod strikes the door three times before it is opened and MPs follow Black Rod and the Commons Speaker to the

Black Rod is sent to summon the UK House of Commons to listen to the King's Speech in the UK House of Lords. On her approach, the doors are slammed in her face, symbolising the independence of UK House of Commons from the monarchy. She then knocks three times before the doors are re-opened. #StateOpening | UK Parliament