Card of the Day: Establishing the Parliament of Northern Island

The reign of King George V and Queen Mary was marked by some of the most important events in recent British history, both the triumphs and the tragedies. The thirteenth card in the series by Wills Cigarettes shows an important event in their reign. June 22, marks the ninetieth anniversary of the establishment of Parliament of Northern Ireland, a controversial event in the reign of the King.


The reverse of the card reads:

ESTABLISHING THE PARLIAMENT OF NORTHERN IRELAND


On June 22, 1921, the tenth anniversary of the Coronation, the King after a triumphal progress with the Queen through Belfast established the Parliament of Northern Ireland: and what he termed, ‘the age-long Irish problems which for generations embarrassed our forefathers,’ were in large measure settled. The new Legislature met at the City Hall and in that improvised Senate House was staged a dignified replica of the annual Parliamentary pageant of Westminster. The Sovereign is reading his memorable inaugural speech to the assembled Commons, the Speaker attending on his right.