The government's legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session will be laid out in the Queen's Speech today. New laws around Brexit, education and levelling up are all expected to be outlined during today's State Opening of Parliament.
Prince Charles will stand in for the Queen this year after the monarch cancelled her attendance over her ongoing mobility issues. It is the first time she will miss the event in more than 60 years. Prince William is also due to attend the ceremony for the first time.
The speech will be an opportunity for Boris Johnson to assure the public that his administration is focused on people’s concerns around the rising cost of living. It follows last week's bruising set of local election results, with many blaming the Conservatives' overall loss of council seats on the partygate row and the behaviour of Tory MPs.
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The State Opening of Parliament will take place today, Tuesday, May 10, with the Queen's Speech expected at around 11.30am. The speech is written by the government but will be delivered by Prince Charles from the House of Lords throne.
The end of the speech marks the start of the new parliamentary session, which begins with members of both Houses debating the content of the speech over a number of days. Here's everything you need to know.
What will be in the Queen's Speech?
The topic of Brexit is expected to feature heavily in the government's plans for the next year. Mr Johnson has promised to deliver a “super seven” of bills which he says will cut red tape and “unnecessary barriers inherited from the EU”.
Ahead of the speech, the prime minister told the Sunday Express that the new set of Brexit legislation will allow Britain to “thrive as a modern, dynamic and independent country” by “changing old EU rules that don’t work for the UK”.
The government is expected to use the speech to bring forward changes to Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements. However, deputy PM Dominic Raab has so far refused to say whether new measures would be included. Justice secretary Mr Raab did indicate that the government is planning to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights.
When it comes to education, the government says it wants to crack down on truancy, beef up the powers of education watchdogs and reform the funding system in new legislation to create “a school system that works for every child”. Under the plans, England’s schools will be required to publish an attendance policy and there will be compulsory registers for children who are not in classrooms so the authorities can identify who is not receiving a full-time education.
The prime minister is expected to also announce the government’s plans to revive struggling town centres. The plans are aimed at ridding high streets of “derelict shopfronts” and restoring neighbourhood pride, with councils given extra powers to force landlords to rent out empty shops. Other measures will include the ability to make the pavement cafes which sprang up during the Covid-19 pandemic a permanent part of the town centre landscape.
What happens during the State Opening of Parliament?
The State Opening of Parliament is known for its grand ceremonial aspects including some strange traditions, many of which can be traced back as far as the 16th century. The current ceremony dates back to the opening of the rebuilt Palace of Westminster in 1852 after the fire of 1834.
Last year, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was adapted with fewer guests to ensure it was Covid safe. This year, the event will be different again due to the Queen's absence.
Changes have been made over the years to ensure the Queen, who has just turned 96, can take part safely. It is understood that measures had been put in place to reduce the amount of walking the monarch would have had to do if she was there.
The event usually begins with the Queen's procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The Queen is usually escorted by the Household Cavalry but has travelled in a car rather than a carriage in recent years. The monarch arrives at the Sovereign's Entrance before proceeding to the Robing Room. Since 2016, the Queen has used the lift rather than the stairs when arriving and leaving Westminster.
She would usually wear the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State, but has instead opted for smart day dress in recent years. The ceremonial attire is heavy, with the crown weighing in at just over one kilogram.
The Queen leads the Royal Procession through the Royal Gallery and into the chamber of the House of Lords. The House of Lords official, who is known as Black Rod is then sent to summon the prime minister and the MPs from the Commons.
As Black Rod approaches the doorm to the Commons, they are slammed in his face. This is a practice dating back to the Civil War and symbolises the Commons' independence from the monarchy. Black Rod uses his rod to strike the door three times before it is opened. Members of the Commons then follow Black Rod and the Commons Speaker to the Lords chamber, where they stand at the opposite end to the throne to listen to the speech.
What happens when the Queen can't attend?
The Queen has opened Parliament all but two times during her reign. The exceptions were in 1959, the year she was pregnant with the Duke of York, and 1963, when she was pregnant with the Earl of Wessex. On those occasions, her speech was read by the Lord Chancellor.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman had said last week that the Queen was aiming to deliver her address this year but her attendance would be confirmed on the day. However, the Palace confirmed on Monday evening that she had decided not to attend the event after consulting her doctor.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow.
“At Her Majesty’s request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of Wales will read The Queen’s Speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance.”
A Letters Patent has now been authorised by the Queen to cover the State Opening of Parliament. It delegates to Counsellors of State the royal function of opening a new session of Parliament. In this instance, it enables Charles and William to jointly exercise that function.
