The State Opening of Parliament takes place today (Wednesday 17 July) marking the formal start of the parliamentary year and setting out the government’s agenda for the 2024-25 session.
Parliament’s State Opening is a main ceremonial event in the parliamentary calendar. For over 500 years, it has served as a symbolic reminder of the unity of Parliament’s three parts: the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
The main elements of the ceremony will take place on Wednesday between 11am and 12.30pm.
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The King will leave Buckingham Palace in a procession that makes its way through the streets to the Houses of Parliament and arrive at the Palace of Westminster’s Sovereign’s Entrance.
From there the King will emerge from the Robing Room before processing through the Royal Gallery to the House of Lords chamber. The Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance, symbols of sovereign power and authority, as per tradition will be carried in front of the Monarch.
When the King is seated upon the throne, he will instruct the Lord Great Chamberlain to signal to Black Rod to summon MPs from the House of Commons. MPs will then process to the Lords chamber, standing at the opposite end to the throne to listen to the speech.
The King will then reads out the speech, written by the government, from the throne in the House of Lords.
When the King leaves, a new parliamentary session starts and Parliament gets down to work. Members debate the content of the speech and agree an ‘Address in Reply to His Majesty’s Gracious Speech’.
On completion of the speech, the procession returns to the Robing Room prior to departure.
The State Opening of Parliament is the main ceremonial event in the parliamentary calendar and marks the official start of a parliamentary year.
State Opening: how it happens
DID YOU KNOW? The State Opening of Parliament actually starts with a ceremonial search of the cellars in the Houses of Parliament. This commemorates Guy Fawkes’ ‘gunpowder plot’ of 1605.
The ceremony begins in the Prince’s Chamber in the House of Lords. The search is conducted by the Yeomen of the Guard, the King’s Bodyguard.
After the speech, a new parliamentary session starts and Parliament gets down to work. Members of both Houses debate the content of the speech.
House of Lords debate
The House of Lords debates the different subject areas of the speech over six days, starting on Thursday 18 July. After which, bills are introduced and the Lords return to work shaping laws, holding the government to account and investigating important issues of the day.
Debate topics
Thursday 18 July: energy, the environment and housing.
Friday 19 July: education, early years and health care.
Monday 22 July: economic growth, infrastructure and employment.
Tuesday 23 July: constitution and devolution.
Wednesday 24 July: justice and home affairs.
Thursday 25 July: foreign affairs and defence.
House of Commons debate
Members of the House of Commons debate the planned legislative programme for several days, starting on Thursday 18 July, looking at different subject areas. The King’s Speech is voted on by the Commons.
State Opening is broadcast live on Parliament TV and there will be a live stream on X; @houseoflords and YouTube.
Find out more
- Lords publications: State Opening of Parliament.
- State Opening explained.
- State Opening: timetable of events.
- What happens after State Opening.
Source: UK Parliament
