The King's Speech: State Opening of Parliament 2023

[-:Undertaker:-]

State Opening of Parliament 2023: The King's Speech

Tomorrow The King will open the last session of this Parliament in his first King's Speech

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32816450

King Charles III will deliver the King's Speech as part of the State Opening of Parliament on 7 November 2023.

It will be his first King's Speech since becoming monarch - although he gave the Queen's Speech on behalf of his mother in May 2022.

The King's Speech provides the government with an opportunity to outline its priorities for the months ahead.

Formally called the Speech from the Throne, it is a key part of the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, which marks the start of the parliamentary year.

The next session of Parliament is likely to be the last before the general election, which must take place by January 2025.

Traditionally, the State Opening begins with a procession in which the King travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster by carriage.

On arrival, he uses the Sovereign's Entrance, reserved for the monarch.

The King then processes to the throne in the House of Lords.

MPs are summoned to the Lords by Black Rod, an official position currently held by Sarah Clarke.

Before entering the House of Commons, Black Rod has the door shut in their face, symbolising the chamber's independence from the monarchy.

The speech sets out the laws the government wants to get through Parliament in the coming year.

MPs, peers and other dignitaries in the House of Lords generally listen in silence.

Traditionally, the government MP holding the position of vice-chamberlain of the household - currently Jo Churchill - is "held hostage" in Buckingham Palace while the King is in Parliament, to ensure the monarch's safe return.

The speech is written by the government.

Its length depends on the number of proposed laws and other announcements - such as foreign-policy objectives - but it normally lasts about 10 minutes.

The monarch delivers the speech in a neutral tone, to avoid any appearance of political support.

I always love the State Opening of Parliament ceremony - full of interesting history stretching back hundreds of years. The cellars under the House of Lords are still searched just before the monarch arrives, to foil a potential gunpowder plot that was intended to kill King James VI & I. After the pandemic and the late Queen's declining health led to a pared down ceremony in recent years, it will be nice to hopefully see the ceremony restored back to full glory.

The last time a King opened Parliament was in 1950 when King George VI opened it for the last time.

Thoughts?

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The King and Queen heading towards Parliament.

The Queen is wearing the State Diadem which which will be familiar to many of us as Queen Elizabeth II often wore it for banknotes/coins.

King Charles III heads for Parliament in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach

Follow our King's Speech coverage live https://t.co/CxXp94G4OB pic.twitter.com/ui18RB9Z3f

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) November 7, 2023

Here's a photograph of the then-Prince of Wales in his first Queen's Speech back in 1967, he was aged 19 then.

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Some clips of the main parts and photographs. You can see the current Queen and former Queen wearing the George IV State Diadem.

And that's pretty much it now until the next General Election takes place. I suspect the next King's Speech will be written by PM Sir Keir Starmer...

King Charles III arrives at UK Parliament to deliver the first King's Speech in more than 70 years

Follow our live coverage https://t.co/X3cWEi5QCZ pic.twitter.com/qvIKVreCdr

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 7, 2023

Black Rod summons MPs from the House of Commons to listen to the King's Speech

Follow our live State Opening of Parliament coverage https://t.co/CxXp94G4OB pic.twitter.com/IreDJaCmUs

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) November 7, 2023

King Charles begins speech with a tribute to the "legacy of service and devotion to this country” set by his mother Queen Elizabeth

Follow our live King's Speech coverage https://t.co/CxXp94G4OB pic.twitter.com/4zHNh1JFfX

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) November 7, 2023