State Opening: how it happens

Order of key events in the ceremony to mark the formal start to a new session of Parliament.

Order of the day

Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster

The King leaves Buckingham Palace in a procession that makes its way through the streets to the Houses of Parliament. The King then arrives at Sovereign's Entrance.

Royal Procession

The King emerges 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, are carried in front of the Monarch.

Summons of the Commons

When the King is seated upon the throne, he instructs the Lord Great Chamberlain to signal to Black Rod to summon MPs from the House of Commons. MPs process to the Lords chamber, standing at the opposite end to the throne to listen to the speech.

King's Speech

The King reads out the speech, written by the government, from the throne in the House of Lords.

The King leaves

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’.

Timetable

The main elements of the ceremony take place between 11am and 12.30pm, including:

11.15am arrival of the King
11.27am the Royal Procession
11.30am the King is seated on the throne in the House of Lords

On completion of the speech, the procession returns to the Robing Room prior to departure.

Watch the ceremony

State Opening is broadcast live on Parliament TV and streamed on the House of Lords Twitter/X feed.

2022

In 2022, Parliament was opened by the then Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge as Counsellors of State. The speech was read in the House of Lords chamber by the then Prince of Wales.

State Opening: how it happens