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The Queen opened Parliament for the 51st time in her reign, taking part in a colourful ceremony stretching back over 500 years.
The ceremony serves as a symbolic reminder of the unity of Parliament's three constituent parts - the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The State Opening is an integral feature of today's parliamentary calendar, marking the start of each new Parliamentary session.
The ceremony began as two processions left Buckingham Palace for Parliament. The first included Queen Alexandra's State Coach, which carries the Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and also the Great Sword of State. These objects represent the authority of The Queen as Head of State.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh left in a second procession and travelled to Westminster in the Australian State Coach which, as always, was drawn by four grey horses.
The Queen was met at the Sovereign's entrance at Westminster by the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain, who have ceremonial and Royal parliamentary duties. The Royal Standard was flown from the Victoria Tower and gun salutes fired by artillery troops in Hyde Park and the Tower of London.
The Queen then moved to the Robing Room, where she was dressed in the Imperial State Crown and the parliamentary robe. She led her procession through the Royal Gallery (filled with over 600 guests) towards the chamber of the House of Lords. The Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance, symbols of Sovereign power and authority, were carried in front of The Queen.
The Queen took her seat in the House of Lords before the Lord Great Chamberlain signalled to Black Rod to summon the House of Commons. The Queen cannot enter the House of Commons because of its independent status, so she has to send a messenger. The Sovereign's Messenger, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, made his way from the Lords to the Commons. As he approached, the door of the Commons was slammed in his face to illustrate the independence of the House of Commons.
He then knocked three times, and was allowed to enter. Black Rod then stated: "Mr Speaker, The Queen commands this Honourable House to attend Her Majesty immediately in the House of Peers." Members of the House of Commons then approached the House of Lords and assembled at the opposite end to the throne to listen to The Queen's speech.
The Queen's speech is written by the Government. It sets out the Government's programme for the parliamentary session, the laws they would like to pass, and the changes that they plan to make.
The final words of the speech - "Other measures will be laid before you" - give the Government flexibility to introduce other legislation as necessary.
After her speech, The Queen left Westminster to return to Buckingham Palace, escorted by the Household Cavalry. Once Her Majesty had left Parliament, the Royal Standard was taken down from the Victoria Tower and the Union Flag hoisted in its place. The robes were then put away until the next State Opening and Parliament returned to work. In the afternoon, each House met separately to begin debating the contents of the speech, and a new session was under way.
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