King Charles is set to lead a centuries-old tradition in parliament next week, as he delivers the King’s Speech in the House of Lords. The speech marks the beginning of a new parliamentary session and is both historically symbolic and an important moment where the government’s legislative plans for the year ahead are set out.
When is the King’s Speech?
The next King’s Speech will take place during the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, 13 May, at around 11:30 AM. The State Opening occurs on the first day of a new parliamentary session, typically once a year or after a general election. Parliament was prorogued on Wednesday, 29 April, ahead of the ceremony, marking the end of the previous session and halting most parliamentary business. The last State Opening took place on 17 July 2024, shortly after Labour’s landslide general election victory, while the previous one was on 7 November 2023, which was King Charles’ first King’s Speech as monarch.
What Happens During the Ceremony?
The event, which draws a huge spectacle and audience, is steeped in history. It begins with the monarch’s procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. Before the King’s arrival, the Yeomen of the Guard conduct a ceremonial search of the parliament cellars for explosives, a nod to Guy Fawkes’ 1605 gunpowder plot. A member of the Commons, usually the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, is ceremonially ‘held hostage’ at Buckingham Palace to ensure the King’s safe return. The King then arrives at the sovereign’s entrance, escorted by the household cavalry, before proceeding to the robing room. He leads the royal procession through the royal gallery to the House of Lords, wearing his crown and the robe of state, watched by an audience of 600 people. A senior House of Lords official, known as Black Rod, is then sent to summon MPs from the Commons. As tradition dictates, the doors to the chamber are shut in their face—a practice dating back to the civil war that symbolises the Commons’ independence from the monarch. Black Rod strikes the door three times before it is opened, and MPs follow them back to the Lords chamber to listen to the King’s speech.
What is the King’s Speech and Who Writes It?
King Charles will deliver a speech of around 10 minutes from the throne in the Lords chamber. Despite being called the King’s Speech, it is the government, not the monarch, that writes its contents, and the King is expected to read it in a neutral tone. The speech outlines the government’s policies and proposed legislation for the parliamentary session ahead, which usually lasts about a year. It includes legislation carried over from the previous session, bills announced in 2024’s speech that remain on the agenda, and new planned legislation. While the contents of this year’s speech are not yet known, potential topics could include reforms to the asylum system or digital ID.
What Happens After the King’s Speech?
Once the monarch leaves, the new parliamentary session officially begins, and MPs return to their business in the Commons. Both the Commons and the Lords debate the speech for several days, scrutinising its content and the proposed legislation. Lords do not usually vote on the speech, but MPs in the Commons do. It is extremely rare for the speech to be voted down, with Stanley Baldwin’s government being the last to lose such a vote in 1924.
