State Opening of Parliament 2016

The Queen’s Speech The Queen’s Speech is delivered by the Queen from the Throne in the House of Lords. Although the Queen reads the speech, it is written by the government. It contains an outline of its policies and proposed legislation for the new parliamentary session. After the Queen’s Speech When the Queen leaves, a new parliamentary session starts and Parliament gets back to work. Members of both agree an ‘Address in Reply to Her Majesty’s Gracious Speech’ and debate the content of the speech. Each House continues the debate over the planned legislative programme for several days, looking at different subject areas. The Queen’s Speech is voted on by the Commons, but no vote is taken in the Lords. Find out more about State Opening and the Queen’s Speech: