The State Opening of Parliament will take place today after parliament was prorogued on April 28 and the 2021-2022 session came to a close.
The ceremonial event will mark the start of the 2022-2023 parliamentary year and the Queen was set make a speech to set out the agenda for the next parliamentary session.
But as the Queen has been unable to attend official events in recent months, she will also miss the State Opening for the first time in 59 years.
What time is the Queen’s speech?
The next State Opening of Parliament will take place on Tuesday, May 10. In previous years, the most important parts of the ceremony took place between 11am and 12.30pm.
Coverage will begin on the BBC at 10.30am and will end at 12.15pm. The Queen’s speech will be broadcast on BBC One at 2.20pm and will last 10 minutes.
What is prorogation?
Prorogation marks the formal end of the Parliamentary session. On April 28, the Queen formally prorogued parliament and an announcement was made on her behalf in the House of Lords Chamber.
What is the State Opening of Parliament?
The State Opening of Parliament marks the start of the parliamentary year. The Queen usually makes a speech which sets out the government’s agenda and outlines the proposed policies and legislation.
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Who will make the Queen’s speech this year?
The Queen has been unable to attend some events recently, and will miss the Queen’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament this year.
She has only missed it twice in her 70 year reign–in 1959 and in 1963 when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, respectively.
The Lord Chancellor at the time delivered her speech instead.
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Although it was possible that Dominic Raab could deliver the speech, as he is Lord Chancellor, Prince Charles will deliver the Queen’s speech instead.
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, will also attend the State Opening for the the first time. The royal function of opening a new parliament has been delegated to both Charles and William by the Queen.
The Queen will miss the state opening due to ongoing mobility issues that she has suffered since the autumn.
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.”
