State Opening of Parliament

Common card · No. 265901

The State Opening of Parliament is a ceremonial event which formally marks the beginning of each session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. At its core is the Monarch's "gracious speech from the throne", which is also known as the King's or Queen's Speech, is read by the monarch but written by the government of the day. In the speech the monarch gives notice of forthcoming state visits, before setting out the government's legislative programme for the new parliamentary session. No business of either the House of Lords or the House of Commons can proceed until the Sovereign's speech has been delivered. The State Opening takes place in the House of Lords chamber within the Palace of Westminster on the first day of the new parliamentary session. This traditionally tends to fall in November, but can occur at any time of year depending on the timing of general elections and parliamentary session start dates. It takes place in front of a formal gathering of both Houses of Parliament; the...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Roger Harris/House of Lords, CC BY 3.0