We were led to believe by Buckingham Palace that this would be a state opening of parliament with a difference - a more modern occasion stripped of much of its traditional pomp and ceremony.

Granted, ''Silver Stick'' and a few ladies in waiting had been given their marching orders, but to the untrained eye it all looked much the same as normal.

As usual, we had old men walking backwards while another wearing a wig and silk stockings banged on the door with a big stick after it had been shut in his face.

Pantomime it may be, but at least it's traditional entertainment!

Much of the pomp and ceremony of the Queen's Speech remained the same

After that little misunderstanding over the door-slamming incident had been sorted out, MPs walked to the Lords to hear the Queen unveil the government's new legislative programme.

Most of the contents had already been leaked to the press, but even so there was a feeling that this new session would be different.

There were cries of ''hear, hear'' mixed with grumblings of discontent when the Queen announced that the government intended to abolish hereditary peers in the House of Lords.

Normally the Queen's speech is listened to in total silence despite what MPs think of its contents.

It also promises to be a different parliamentary session for Scottish MPs as well.

As members of the House of Commons crowded at the bar of the House of Lords to listen to the Queen it soon became apparent that no Scottish Office ministers were present. In fact all seven of them had decided to stay away.

This was no snub to the monarch but instead a reflection on the new realities of Scottish politics - and a graphic reminder that the focus is now very much moving northwards.

No major Scottish bills

For the first time in four decades the Queen's speech contained no major Scottish legislation, only a brief mention from Her Majesty of what is already known, that elections to the new Scottish Parliament will take place next May.

To be strictly correct, it's not true to say there will be no Scottish legislation. But that taking place at Westminster will hardly set the heather alight.

The one specific Scottish bill is to increase the amount of money Scottish Enterprise - the government-funded investment agency - can borrow.

There will also be Scottish elements in two other key areas. The Water Industry Bill will include provision to establish an independent water regulator in Scotland.

And the National Health Service Bill will contain clauses to streamline the number of NHS trusts in Scotland and lead to the abolition of GP fundholding north of the border.

There will also be some highly complex technical legislation which will actually allow the Scottish parliamentary elections to go ahead.

But generally it's a deliberate ploy by the government to keep Scottish legislation to a bare minimum. Ministers believe the new Scottish Parliament should draw up its own agenda without interference from Westminster.

A sign of things to come

But the lack of Scottish input in the coming session is also a sign of things to come.

Many Scottish MPs are now thinking seriously about what life will be like at Westminster after devolution.

Next summer Edinburgh will assume control over the ''bread and butter'' issues in areas like health, education, transport, local government and limited taxation matters.

Westminster will be in charge of so called '' reserved'' matters - areas such as macroeconomics, defence, foreign affairs and social security.

At present there are 72 Westminster MPs representing Scottish constituencies. In the long run this number will be cut, but for the foreseeable future the figure will stay at 72, even if the workload will be lighter.

The question is now being raised more frequently and, in some cases, more loudly: what will all these Scottish MPs do?

Some, including the likes of Gordon Brown, Robin Cook, George Robertson and Alistair Darling, will have more than enough to keep them busy with their cabinet duties. But others could find themselves decidedly underemployed.

Some opposition MPs have suggested Scottish MPs at Westminster ought to voluntarily withdraw from discussing English matters (so neutralising the much mentioned West Lothian question).

Others, perhaps more provocatively, say if the workload of Scottish MPs at Westminster is cut, so too should their pay as well!

Destination unknown

The arguments are continuing, but there is now a recognition that even before devolution officially happens changes are being set in train - and as yet no one knows all the answers.

For example, what will happen to Scottish departmental questions at Westminster after the action moves to Edinburgh? Most people assume they'll be abolished.

Will the same happen to the Scottish Affairs select and grand committees?

And another thing. The Scottish Office has rather swanky London headquarters in Whitehall. Dover House is an eighteenth century mansion house and was once the home of Lady Caroline Lamb, the mistress of the poet Byron.

A number of ministers have been coveting the building and, metaphorically at least, ''measuring up for new curtains''.