The act of proroguing or suspending Parliament is marked by a traditional ceremony in the House of Lords.

This begins with an announcement on behalf of the Queen, read by the Leader of the House.

A Royal Commission made up of five peers – usually made up of the leader and deputy leader of the Lords, the Lord Speaker, the shadow leader of the Lords and the convener of crossbench peers – then enter the Chamber dressed in parliamentary robes.

They instruct Black Rod, a senior officer in the Lords, to summon the House of Commons.

Black Rod then heads to the Commons where, as is customary, the door is slammed shut in his or her face.

After knocking three times with his ebony rod, the door is opened and MPs proceed to the Lords.

When MPs arrive, there is a ceremonial greeting from the Royal Commission, who doff their hats, with representatives of the Commons bowing in return.

The Clerk of the Crown then announces the names of Acts to be given royal assent, declaring “La Reyne le veult” – Norman French for “The Queen wishes it”, after each Act.

The achievements of the government are reviewed and back in the Commons, MPs traditionally file out of the Chamber and shake the Speaker's hand.

Whether many of them are still awake at this early hour of the morning is another question...