Noting that Queen Victoria was the only previous British monarch to have reigned for 60 years, Lord Mandelson said 2012 would be a "landmark year".

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Lord Lieutenant Major Alexander Trotter was there to represent the monarch.

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The session ended on a light-hearted note with Leader of the House Lord Strathclyde telling peers there were no plans afoot to allow Parliament to elect a monarch and that, if they did, the electoral system used would not be proportional representation.

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