The Queen and Prince Philip leave Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to travel to the Houses of ParliamentJustin Tallis/AFPA horse rears up as a carriage leaves Buckingham Palace for the State Opening of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament in the Diamond Jubilee State CoachPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe carriage procession heads up the Mall from Buckingham Palace for the State Opening of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Queen's carriage travels up the Mall from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersPrince Charles is driven by carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Imperial State Crown is driven by carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe carriage carrying the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrives at the Houses of ParliamentCarl Court/Getty ImagesThe Queen, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, arrives for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of ParliamentCarl Court/Getty ImagesThe Prince of Wales of the Duchess of Cornwall arrive for the State Opening of ParliamentCarl Court/Getty ImagesMembers of the Queen's bodyguard, known as gentlemen at arms, await the arrival of the monarchRichard Pohle/PoolThe Yeoman warders take part in the traditional ceremonial search of the chambersRichard Pohle/PoolMembers of the House of Lords, including Lord Michael Grade, gather to watch the ceremonial search ahead of the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of WestminsterRichard Pohle/PoolBlack Rod knocks on the door to the House of CommonsStefan Rousseau/PoolBlack Rod, David Leakey, processes though the central lobby during the State Opening of ParliamentDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesPrime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne and acting Labour leader Harriet Harman arrive for the State Opening of Parliament in the House of LordsStefan Rousseau/PoolThe Imperial State Crown is carried during the State Opening of ParliamentEddie Mulholland/PoolThe Queen, now wearing the Imperial State Crown, proceeds through the Royal Gallery before the State Opening of Parliament in the House of LordsSuzanne Plunkett/ReutersThe Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, passes through the Royal Gallery during the State Opening of ParliamentGeoff Pugh/PoolThe Queen and Prince Philip, and Prince Charles and Camilla, proceed through the Royal GallerySuzanne Plunkett/ReutersThe royals pass through the Royal Gallery during the State Opening of ParliamentGeoff Pugh/PoolThe Queen, sitting next to her husband, delivers her government's plansAlastair Grant/PoolThe Queen delivers the Queen's Speech next to Prince Phillip in the House of LordsBen Stansall/AFPThe Queen shakes hands with the Leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling as she leaves through the Norman Porch of the House of Commons following the State Opening of Parliament in the House of LordsSteve Parson/PoolMayor of London Boris Johnson arrives in the House of Commons chamber following the State Opening of ParliamentStefan Rousseau/PoolThe Queen and Prince Philip return by carriage to Buckingham Palace after the State Opening of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/Reuters
The Queen set off for the Palace of Westminster in her Diamond Jubilee State Coach for the State Opening of Parliament, an annual blend of politics and pomp replete with gilded throne, diamond-studded crown and officials in antiquated garb.
In the annual ritual, members of Parliament headed from the House of Commons to the House of Lords to hear the Queen's speech.
In keeping with tradition Black Rod, the Queen's representative, summoned the MPs and the door was slammed in his face to symbolise the Commons' independence. He then banged on the door with his rod three times before he was allowed in and the MPs filed into the Lords.
The Queen and Prince Philip leave Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to travel to the Houses of ParliamentJustin Tallis/AFPA horse rears up as a carriage leaves Buckingham Palace for the State Opening of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament in the Diamond Jubilee State CoachPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe carriage procession heads up the Mall from Buckingham Palace for the State Opening of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Queen's carriage travels up the Mall from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersPrince Charles is driven by carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Imperial State Crown is driven by carriage from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of ParliamentPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe carriage carrying the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrives at the Houses of ParliamentCarl Court/Getty ImagesThe Queen, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, arrives for the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of ParliamentCarl Court/Getty ImagesThe Prince of Wales of the Duchess of Cornwall arrive for the State Opening of ParliamentCarl Court/Getty ImagesThe Yeoman warders take part in the traditional ceremonial search of the chambersRichard Pohle/PoolMembers of the House of Lords, including Lord Michael Grade, gather to watch the ceremonial search ahead of the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of WestminsterRichard Pohle/PoolBlack Rod, David Leakey, processes though the central lobby during the State Opening of ParliamentDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesPrime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne and acting Labour leader Harriet Harman arrive for the State Opening of Parliament in the House of LordsStefan Rousseau/PoolThe Queen, now wearing the Imperial State Crown, proceeds through the Royal Gallery before the State Opening of Parliament in the House of LordsSuzanne Plunkett/ReutersThe Queen and Prince Philip, and Prince Charles and Camilla, proceed through the Royal GallerySuzanne Plunkett/ReutersThe Queen, sitting next to her husband, delivers her government's plansAlastair Grant/Pool
The Queen's Speech, delivered by the monarch but written by the government, included legislation to cap welfare benefits, freeze some taxes for five years and hold a vote on EU membership by the end of 2017 — all key Conservative election promises.
Other laws the Queen outlined include a crackdown on illegal immigration, more powers for Scotland and a bill preventing any rise in key taxes before 2020.
