Queen's Speech: the most colourful event of the parliamentary year

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The Queen followed centuries of tradition by formally opening a new session of Parliament today.

Her majesty was pictured in the Diamond Jubilee state coach with Prince Phillip leaving their London home of Buckingham Palace.

As the Queen reaches the House of Lords, a 41-gun salute was fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, supported by the Band of the Royal Artillery, in Green Park.

The formal tradition is for her majesty to arrive at Sovereign's Entrance and proceed to the Robing Room.

She wears the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State to lead the Royal Procession through the Royal Gallery, packed with 600 guests, to the chamber of the House of Lords.

The House of Lords official known as 'Black Rod' is then sent to summon the Commons.

The doors to the Commons chamber are shut in his face: a practice dating back to the Civil War, symbolising the Commons' independence from the monarchy.

The Black Rod strikes the door three times before it is opened.

Members of the House of Commons then follow Black Rod and the Commons Speaker to the Lords chamber, standing at the opposite end to the Throne, known as the Bar of the House, to listen to the speech.

Addressing MPs in the House of Lords, she said: “My government will use the opportunity of a strengthening economy to deliver security for working people, to increase life chances for the most disadvantaged and to strengthen national defences.

“My ministers will continue to bring the public finances under control so that Britain lives within its means, and to move to a higher wage and lower welfare economy where work is rewarded.”

The State Opening of Parliament forms the most colourful event of the Parliamentary year and is steeped in tradition and customs dating back centuries.

It is the Queen's duty as Head of State to formally open each new session of Parliament.

Although the Queen reads the speech, the content is entirely drawn up by the Government and approved by the Cabinet.

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