On the first day of the new Parliamentary session, the Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster to deliver a speech before a Joint Session of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The speech is written by her government, and outlines its priorities for the coming year.Queen Elizabeth II gave her address to open Parliament on Dec. 3. Here is the speech she gave as Head of State. Coverage provided courtesy of the BBC.
The Queen has said the economy will be the government's 'overriding priority' for the year ahead. Compare other themes and delivery with Obama's Inaugural Speech
//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7762675.stm
With more than 500 years of history the State Opening is the most colourful and ceremonial occasion in the parliamentary year.
The Queen's Speech marks the start of a new session at Westminster, but what is the political significance of all that pomp and ceremony?
The BBC's Ben Wright was given exclusive access throughout the Houses of Parliament to explain what it means:
1 comment:
Ultimately, although it can be said that Queen Elizabeth II has virtually no substantial power in the U.K., there's no denying that the ceremony is extremely important to the government of Great Britain. After all, like you've said, this ceremony has been going on for 500 years, and I think its importance lies more in its ability to act as a symbol of tradition and continuity than in the way it supposedly outlines the government's agenda. Even though England hasn't had that tumultuous of a history in the first place, the pomp and ceremony nonetheless act as recurring events that have the power to instill confidence in the people, even when social, economic, and political circumstances are not the best they could be.
-Matt, p.2 class
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