In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and that includes a Speech from the Throne. In many other countries, a similar speech from the throne is given by their head of state to their national legislature at or near the opening of a new legislative session.
The State Opening was up to 2011 held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembled. In 1974, when two general elections were held, there were two State Openings.
However, from 2012 onwards the ceremony will take place in May. This is owing to the introduction in 2011 of fixed term parliaments of five years in length, with parliamentary elections being subsequently held in the May of every year divisible by five, with the next such election being scheduled for 2015. The 2012 ceremony took place on 9 May 2012.
The current Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, has opened every session of the Westminster Parliament since her accession except in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, respectively. These two sessions were opened by Lords Commissioners, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury (Geoffrey Fisher in 1959, and Michael Ramsey in 1963), empowered by Her Majesty. The Lord Chancellor (The Viscount Kilmuir in 1959, The Lord Dilhorne in 1963) read the Queen's Speech on those occasions.
Read more about State Opening Of Parliament: Preparation, Arrival of The Sovereign and Assembly of Parliament, Delivery of The Speech, Debate On The Speech, Significance, Origins, Equivalents in Other Countries
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