The Purse bearer is an official in the Royal Households of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, and based in the Ministry of Justice. The use of a special purse or burse to hold the Great Seal of the Realm, the

Lord Chancellor The Lord Chancellor, formally titled Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom. The lord chancellor is the minister of justice for England and Wales and the highest-ra ...

's symbol of Office, can be traced as far back as the end of the 13th Century. The purse is solemnly carried before the

in procession on State occasions. It no longer contains the Great Seal which now reposes at the

Palace of Westminster The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative ch ...

; it is however used by the Lord Chancellor to convey the signed copy of the King's Speech printed on

vellum Vellum is prepared animal skin or membrane, typically used as writing material. It is often distinguished from parchment, either by being made from calfskin (rather than the skin of other animals), or simply by being of a higher quality. Vellu ...

, from the King's Robing Room to the steps of the Throne in the Chamber of the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

, at every

State Opening of Parliament The State Opening of Parliament is a ceremonial event which formally marks the beginning of each Legislative session, session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. At its core is His or Her Majesty's "Speech from the throne, gracious speech ...

. The Purse presently in use is made from crimson velvet and lavishly embellished with the Royal Arms and Emblems.

References

Positions within the British Royal Household {{UK-royal-stub