Queen Elizabeth II announced the British government's plans for the coming year at the ceremonial State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster on 18 May. The State Opening is the formal start of the parliamentary year, and the Queen's speech will set out the governments agenda for the coming session.
The speech is set to contain prison reforms, tuition fees and reveal the potential site of a UK spaceport. Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that the most dramatic prison reforms since the 19th-century will feature the speech, which is written by the government but read out by the monarch while she sits on a throne.
Queen Elizabeth II reads the Queen's Speech from the throne during State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of WestminsterJustin Tallis/ AFPQueen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, looks at the assembled lawmakers after she read the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of ParliamentAlastair Grant/ ReutersMembers of the House of Lords gather to witness the traditional 'ceremonial search' in the Prince's chamber at Houses of ParliamentRichard Pohle/ Getty ImagesQueens guards march outside Buckingham Palace before the Queen attends the Houses of ParliamentChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesCamilla, Duchess of Cornwall leaves after the State Opening of Parliament the Houses of ParliamentDan Kitwood/ Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II accepts the Queen's Speech from the Lord Chancellor, Michael Gove, during the State Opening of Parliament, at the Palace of WestminsterAlastair Grant/ ReutersPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II leave the Houses of Parliament in the Jubilee State Carriage after the Queen addressed the State Opening of ParliamentDaniel Leal-Olivas/ Getty ImagesThe Queen proceeds through the Royal Gallery before the state opening of parliament in the House of LordsToby Melville/ReutersQueen Elizabeth's Imperial State Crown arrives at the Royal Gallery before the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords, at the Palace of WestminsterEddie Mulholland/ ReutersQueen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, travel in the Jubilee State Coach as they prepare to attend the State Opening of ParliamentDaniel Leal-Olivas/ ReutersQueen Elizabeth and Prince Philip proceed through the Royal Gallery before the State Opening of Parliament in the House of LordsToby Melville/ ReutersQueen Elizabeth II leaves Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage on her way to the Houses of ParliamentChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesYeoman warders take part in the traditional 'ceremonial search' in the Prince's chamber at Houses of ParliamentRichard Pohle/ Getty Images
The speech is also expected to include measures to clamp down on extremist preachers that will be closely watched by free-speech groups. A subject that will not be discussed will be the upcoming EU referendum.
On 18 May, Press regulator IPSO ruled a headline published on 9 March by British newspaper The Sun that claimed the 'Queen backs Brexit' to be significantly misleading, although the paper stood by its story. Buckingham Palace had complained to IPSO over the 9 March report, which quoted unnamed sources as saying Queen Elizabeth had made her opposition to British membership of the European Union clear on at least two occasions in the past decade.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage to attend the Houses of ParliamentChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage on their way to the Houses of ParliamentChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesA woman uses binoculars as she waits for the start of the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords, at the Palace of WestminsterToby Melville/ Getty ImagesPrime Minister David Cameron and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walk to the House of Lords for the StateStefan Wermuth/ ReutersYeoman of the Guard walk in through the Sovereigns entrance at Houses of ParliamentDan Kitwood/ Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II leaves Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage on her way to the Houses of ParliamentChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage on their way to the Houses of ParliamentChris Ratcliffe/ Getty ImagesActors Jim Carter (L) and Imelda Staunton takes their seats ahead of the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster at the Houses of ParliamentToby Melville/ Getty ImagesPrime Minister David Cameron and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walk to the House of Lords for the State Opening of ParliamentStefan Wermuth/ Reuters
