King Charles arrives in Parliament for first King’s Speech of new Labour government

Cannon shots boomed to mark King Charles’s arrival for the state opening of Parliament today.

He is reading out a speech written by the new government, setting out the priorities of the first Labour government in 14 years.

The event is full of pomp, ceremony, and quirky oddities such an MP ‘taken hostage’, but it’s also a crucial part of the political calendar.

It is one of the first major events for new prime minister Keir Starmer, who is expected to set out plans for more than 35 new bills and draft bills with an emphasis on improving transport, creating jobs and accelerating the building of houses and infrastructure in a bid to improve economic growth.

As well, it’s a major public event, with carriages and soldiers parading through London in scenes you only really see otherwise for a royal wedding, coronation, or state funeral.

‘Black Rod’ arrived in the House of Commons to inform MPs they were commanded by the King to make their way to the House of Lords, where they will listen to King read out the speech.

The event is a target for protest, with ten members of Youth Demand already arrested in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance this morning.

The King and Queen arrive in the Norman Porch for the State Opening of Parliament (Picture: Getty)

Anti-royalists hold placards as Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla travel by carriage (Picture: Reuters)

Black Rod Sarah Clarke walks through the Royal Gallery (Picture: PA)

The Imperial State Crown is carried through the Norman Porch (Picture: Getty)

Members of the House of Lords and guests take their seats in the Lords Chamber (Picture: PA)

Crowds wait near Buckingham Palace to view the procession (Picture: PA)

Guards arriving at the Palace of Westminster (Picture: PA)

House of Commons of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle being prepared for the State Opening (Picture: PA)

Monarchists demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament (Picture: AP)

Anti-monarchy Not My King protesters were also demonstrating outside the Houses of Parliament (Picture: AP)

The King’s Bodyguard, the Yeomen of the Guard, carry out the ceremonial search of the Palace of Westminster (Picture: PA)

King Charles III and Queen Camilla travelling in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach (Picture: PA)

Members of the Life Guards, a unit of the Household Cavalry, line the stairs of the Norman Porch (Picture: Reuters)

Last week the group called for supporters to assemble at Victoria Embankment Gardens on Wednesday morning in protest over Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

On social media the Metropolitan Police said: ‘A further 20 to 25 have now gathered in Victoria Embankment Gardens and further arrests are being made.’

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