State Opening of Parliament

See the Queen in action

Address:

The Houses of Parliament - Chelsea
SW1 - Westminster/St James
London

Nearest Bus or Train:

Westminster

Open Hours:

Not available

On this day, the Queen opens Parliament - in regal regalia and crown and travels by carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster to deliver the Queen's Speech to the assembled members of the upper and lower houses. The members of the Commons are summoned to the Lords to hear the speech, but in a demonstration of the political independence of the lower house its doors are ceremonially slammed in the messenger's face before the summons is obeyed. The State Opening of Parliament marks the start of the annual parliamentary session.

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