What Happens During the State Opening of Parliament? 🤴

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Today marks the state opening of parliament, which is the formal start of the parliamentary year and [clears throat] is where his majesty the king reads the speech prepared by the government from the throne in the House of Lords setting out an outline of the government's policies and the proposed legislation for the parliamentary session. Now, fun fact, the day actually begins with a ceremonial search of the sellers in the Houses of Parliament.

[00:00:26]Why?

[00:00:27]Well, this goes back over 420 years to the gunpowder plot of 1605.

[00:00:33]The search begins in the Prince's Chamber before moving into the Chamber of the House of Lords.

[00:00:39]After the speech is given by the monarch, we get down to work and we have to debate both houses the contents of the speech itself. So, let's see how this all progresses in the days and weeks to come.