Queen Elizabeth wearing her crown and dressed in a fur
coat arrives at the Norman Porch of the Palace of Westminster for the State
Opening of Parliament today;
The Queen delivered the speech in just 15 minutes, setting out the Government’s legislative plans for the coming year, amid lavish traditional ceremony at the House of Lords in Westminster.
The Queen begins reading the speech today which she said
would be justice and the economy at the forefront of Government over the next
year;
Helping hand: Prince Phillip gently holds the hand of the
Queen as she sits on the throne to deliver the bills on the agenda for the next
year in Parliament;
The Monarch arrived at the House of Lords shortly after 11am in a ceremonial horse-drawn coach amid fanfares before delivering her speech from the grand throne in the House of Lords dressed in her crown and full regalia. The ceremonial trappings surrounding the speech make the event one of the high points of the parliamentary calendar.
Princess Anne stands to attention at The State Opening of
Parliament at the Palace of Westminster as the Queen arrives at West Minister
dressed in full regalia;
Full house: MPs and Lords gather in the Upper Chamber
today as they listen to the Queen's Speech. Reform of the House of Lords was one
of the controversial measures included in the delivery;
In: The Queen walks with the Duke of Edinburgh at the
start of the the familiar proceedings;
Grand entrance: The packed Palace of Westminster looks on
as the monarch walks towards here throne in the House of Lords;
As the proceedings started, veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner shouted: ‘Jubilee Year double dip recession. What a start!’ as Black Rod came to the Commons chamber to summon MPs to the Lords to hear the Queen. Conservative MPs cried ‘shame’ at the interruption.
Irish Guards stand to attention as a carriage carrying the
Queen's crown leaves Buckingham Palace on its way to Westminster to be worn
during the State Opening of Parliament;
Travelling in style: The Queen sits next to Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh, as she looks toward Irish Guards on parade through the window
of the Australian State Coach as she departs Buckingham Palace en route to the
Palace of Westminster;
FAB BIBI!!!
Her Majesty's tiara glistens from inside the Royal
carriage as she goes to the House of Lords. She was no doubt thinking about how
to deliver her speech, right;
Procession: The Royal carriage pulled by four dapple grey
steeds passes Big Ben before Queen's Speech;
A successful day at the office: Fifteen minutes later Her
Majesty leaves the House of Lords after setting out the agenda for he next
year"
A horse ride home: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
roll away back towards Buckingham Palace as politicians and pundits are left to
digest the contents of her speech"
The carriage leaves the grand surroundings of the Palace
of Westminster as members of the public look on hoping for a glimpse of the
monarch;
Sarah Jackson, chief executive of the Working Families charity, said: 'We want to see more choice and flexibility for fathers to share the care and more paternity leave would be a great step forward, but the Government consulted on cutting maternity leave to 18 weeks which is a step too far.
Pushing women back to work too soon will bring hidden costs to employers. There's still time for the Government to change their minds and guarantee six months for mums.'
Energy market regulation, the creation of a National Crime Agency dubbed the British FBI, tougher regulation of supermarkets and a new ban on driving while under the influence of drugs are all included.
One of the biggest omissions from the Queen’s speech was a bill to pave the way for gay couples to get married.
However, there was no mention of gay marriage anywhere in the Queen’s speech raising the prospect that the plan could be abandoned.
Flexible leave for new parents to allow them greater role in bringing up children
The Children and Families bill is the centre piece of the Government's agenda for the next year while plans pushed but the Liberal Democrats for gay marriage will be left out.The Bill will allow mothers and fathers to swap their parental leave after the birth of their children.
A Children and Families Bill will 'put families front and centre of our national life', said Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg.
Parents will be allowed more flexible leave to care for their children with mothers being able to allowed to return to work earlier and transfer the time off to their partners.
New parents will also be able to request more flexible working hours throughout to enable them to be take am ore active role in their child's upbringing.
The bill is known to be close to the heart of Mr Cameron who makes a a point to spend lunchhours in the flat above Downing Street with his children. He also made special plans to attend his children's school play before jetting off to a meeting about the conflict in Libya.
PM na MKE WAKE MIKONO KWA MIKONOZ" |
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