by Gary J
Wed Nov 15th, 2006 at 06:17:33 AM EST
The State Opening of Parliament is about to start.
This is something like the State of the Union speech in the United States, but much grander (in a Ruritanian sense). Essentialy the Queen reads a speech written by her Ministers listing the legislative programme for the next year.
The Queen is approaching Parliament in the Australian State Coach (horse drawn with cavalry escort).
There is an innovation this year as the Lord Speaker (new office) is going to greet the Queen instead of the Lord Chancellor who used to preside over the Lords.
11.15 National anthem being played as coach arrives.