Colour and splendour steeped in tradition and custom as Queen's Speech marks the State opening of Parliament
As one of the most colourful events on the political landscape the State Opening of Parliament and is steeped in tradition and customs dating back centuries.
It is the Queen's duty as Head of State to formally open each new session of Parliament.
It used to take place in the autumn each year, but since 2010 it is usually scheduled for May thanks to the introduction of five-year fixed-term parliaments.
Before the Queen travels to Parliament from Buckingham Palace, certain historical "precautions" are observed.
The Yeomen of the Guard, the oldest of the royal bodyguards, arm themselves with lanterns to search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster, a practice which dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of November 5 1605.This is followed by a more scientific police search.
Another tradition sees a Government whip held "hostage" at the Palace to ensure the Queen's safe return.The custom dates back to centuries when the monarch and Parliament were on less cordial terms.Once the safety measures have been observed, the Queen travels from her London home in a horse-drawn state coach to Westminster, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh.
The royal couple will travel in the Diamond Jubilee state coach escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and street liners will guard the whole route and present arms as the royal party passes.
Lining the route of the procession will be servicemen from 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards, Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, F Company Scots Guards, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, detachments of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
The Regalia - the Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and Sword of State - travel in their own carriage, ahead of the monarch, escorted by senior members of the royal household.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will join the Queen and Philip at Westminster, travelling in the Irish state coach - the third successive year Charles and Camilla have taken part in the event.
As the Queen reaches the House of Lords, a 41-gun salute will be fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, supported by the Band of the Royal Artillery, in Green Park.
On arrival, the Queen puts on the Imperial State Crown and her parliamentary robe ready for the ceremony itself in the House of Lords.No monarch has set foot in the House of Commons since Charles I entered the Commons and tried to arrest five Members of Parliament in 1642.
The Queen is met at the Palace of Westminster's Sovereign's Entrance by the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain, who, as Keeper of the Royal Palace, wears scarlet court dress and has hanging at his hip the golden key to the Palace.
As the Queen moves up the Sovereign's Staircase to the Robing Chamber, she passes between two lines of dismounted Household Cavalry soldiers in full dress with drawn swords.
They are the only troops allowed to bear arms within the Royal Palaces. After putting on the Imperial State Crown and parliamentary robe, the Queen leads a procession through the Royal Gallery, packed with more than 600 guests, to the Chamber of the House of Lords, where she takes the throne.
The Sovereign's Procession is led by senior parliamentary and government officers, including the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords and the Lord Privy Seal.
The Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance, symbols of the Sovereign's power and authority, are carried in front of the Monarch.
When the Queen sits down, the Lord Great Chamberlain signals to an official, known as the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, in his capacity as the Sovereign's Messenger to summon the House of Commons and demand their presence.