What is the King’s Speech and what time is it?

King Charles is set to continue a centuries-old tradition in parliament when he delivers the King’s Speech in the House of Lords on Wednesday.

This speech, which marks the beginning of a new parliamentary session, is both historically symbolic and an important moment in determining the government’s legislative plans for the coming year.

The traditions of the speech delivered as part of the State Opening of Parliament date back to the 16th century, while the current format of the ceremony dates back to 1852.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces the biggest challenge yet in his premiership; Dozens of his own MPs called for him to resign following the dismal local election results.

Here we look at what the King’s Speech is and what it means:

When is the King’s Speech?

The King’s Speech will take place during the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 13 May at around 11.30am.

The State Opening takes place on the first day of a new parliamentary session (usually once a year) or after a general election.

Parliament adjourned for a time before the ceremony; this signals the end of a parliamentary session and puts an end to almost all parliamentary business and bills currently in progress.

Parliament was adjourned on Wednesday, April 29, ahead of the ceremony to be held next week.

The last State Opening took place on 17 July 2024, shortly after Labor’s overwhelming majority in the general election. Before that, there was the State Opening on 7 November 2023, which was King Charles’ first King’s Speech as monarch.

What happens during the ceremony?

A huge spectacle and crowd-pleasing event, the event is steeped in history and begins with the monarch’s passage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster.

The King’s arrival is preceded by a ceremonial search of the parliamentary cellars for explosives by the Yeomen of the Guard, a tribute to Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot of 1605.

A member of the House of Commons – usually the Household Councilor – is ceremonially ‘held hostage’ at Buckingham Palace to ensure the safe return of the King.

The King will then arrive at the monarch’s entrance accompanied by the house cavalry before proceeding to the dressing room.

He will then lead the royal procession through the royal gallery to the House of Lords, where he will wear his crown and state robes and be 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 House of Commons.

As is the tradition, the doors of the room are closed in their faces. The movement dates back to the civil war and symbolizes the independence of the House of Commons from the monarch.

The Black Rod then knocks three more times before the door opens and the MPs follow them into the Lords chamber to hear the King speak.

What is The King’s Speech and who writes it?

King Charles will then deliver a speech of approximately 10 minutes from his throne to the House of Lords.

Although it is 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 agenda for the parliamentary session, which usually lasts about a year, outlines the government’s policies and proposed legislation.

Legislation carried over from the last session will include legislation announced in the 2024 speech that may still be on the government’s future agenda, as well as newly planned legislation.

It is not yet known what will happen in this year’s King’s Speech, but potential topics could include reforms to the asylum system or digital identity.

What Will Happen After the King’s Speech?

When the monarch leaves, the new parliamentary session officially begins and MPs return to work in the House of Commons.

Both the Commons and the Lords debate the speech over several days, examining its contents and the legislation proposed in it.

The Lords do not usually vote on the speech, but MPs in the House of Commons do.

However, rejection of the speech is extremely rare, as Stanley Baldwin’s government was the last government to lose the vote, in 1924.