State Opening of Parliament

One of Britain’s big annual ceremonial ocassions takes place on Tuesday 6 November, the State Opening of Parliament, when the Queen addresses both Houses of Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The Queen delivers a speech written by the present government setting out the programme of legislation for the coming year’s parliament and its one of the few if only times of the year when she will wear full ceremonial regalia including her large crown. The Queen arrives at Parliament in a horse drawn state coach and an escort of Household Cavalry. Its a good chance to see full on British pageantry at close quarters with her procession leaving Buckingham Palace and travelling down the Mall to Whitehall and arriving at Parliament around 11.15am. They should return to the Palace the same way.