Queen's Speech

The Queen's speech marks the formal opening of Parliament, what many of us see as, well, this place. It's a list of what the Government of the day wants to do, the laws it wants to make in...here. Of course, the Queen doesn't write the speech herself, it's written by the Government. And although it's all about what will be passed in the House of Commons, the Queen delivers the speech from the House of Lords. It's been done this way since at least the late 1800s, the ultimate show of pomp, ceremony, and men in tights. The most famous, Black Rod, who's said to collect MPs from the Commons. But, before he can get there, the doors of the Commons chamber... ...are shut in his face. It's happened this way since the Civil War, and it´s meant to symbolise the Commons' independence from the Monarchy. And they worry too much about his feelings being...dented. He knocks three times... Let's get in. It's a day filled with custom and tradition, Here's another moment to look out for: Dennis Skinner, the veteran Labour MP, always has something to add before things get underway. MPs follow Black Rod to the Lords' chamber, cramming in to listen. ´My Government will continue to deliver the best...´ All manner of policy can go into the Queen's speech, a shopping list of things to come. Once it's all over, MPs come back in here and debate the content, and, given the Conservatives' majority, the Queen's speech will pass.