State Opening of Parliament 2009
16 July 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Written ministerial statement announces the next State Opening - marking the start of the 2009-2010 session - will take place on Wednesday 18 November.
- Lords Hansard: Arrangement of Business: Announcement
- State Opening of Parliament
- YouTube: Lord Speaker on State Opening
- Flickr photos: State Opening
- Briefing: State Opening of Parliament (PDF)
The main purpose of State Opening is for the monarch formally to open Parliament and, in the Queen's Speech, deliver an outline of the Government's proposed policies, legislation for the coming session and a review of the last session.
The date of prorogation - the formal end to the parliamentary year - is yet to be announced.