An extraordinary scene has broken out in the middle of a traditionally polite prorogation ceremony.

Black Rod, the traditional gatekeeper of the House of Lords, walked into the House of Commons to request the presence of MPs in the upper chamber for the pomp -- as is tradition.

But a group of opposition lawmakers held up sheets of paper with "Silenced" written on them, and outgoing Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow was not in the mood to entertain the traditional theatricality of the event.

In a remarkable show of dissent, Bercow sat slumped in his chair and made his anger with Boris Johnson's decision to prorogue Parliament clear.

He said he would "play (his) part" in the ceremony, before adding, "this is not, however, a normal prorogation. It is not typical, it is not standard, it is one of the longest for decades"

Eventually he reluctantly rose, and was joined with Conservative MPs to make the walk to the House of Lords. Chants of "Shame on you!" reigned down in the chamber from MPs as the ceremony got back underway.