State Opening of Parliament 2022

The Prince of Wales, joined by the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of Cambridge, in his role as a Councillor of State, represented the Queen at the Official Opening of the Session of Parliament in the Chamber of the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London on May 10th. This was a ‘dressed down’ version of the State Opening, devoid of pageantry and ceremony, like the State Openings in 2019 and 2021, with the last ‘proper’ State Opening in 2019.The Queen has pulled out of this year’s State Opening due to her ongoing mobility issues.

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The Prince of Wales (wearing the Collar and Star of the Order of the Garter, the Sash and Star of the Order of the Thistle, and his medals), Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke of Cambridge drove by car, rather than by carriage, from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. The Imperial State Crown, which had travelled separately, was carried by the Marquess of Cholmondeley, the Lord Great Chamberlain, ahead of the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke of Cambridge during the procession into the Chamber of the House of Lords, as the Prince took his seat on the Prince Consort’s Throne and the Duchess and Duke sat on seats beside him. The Imperial State Crown was placed on the spot of the Queen’s Throne.

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The members of the House of Commons were summoned, before the Prince of Wales made the Queen’s Speech from the Throne, which is written by the Government, outlining their plans for the current session of Parliament, and does not reflect the personal views of The Queen. After the Speech, which lasted 15 minutes, the Royal Party traveled back to Buckingham Palace.

   

The Queen’s Speech:

My Lords and members of the House of Commons.

My Government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families. My Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country and support more people into work. My Ministers will continue to support the police to make the streets safer, and fund the National Health Service to reduce the COVID backlogs. In these challenging times, my Government will play a leading role in defending democracy and freedom across the world, including continuing to support the people of Ukraine.

My Government will drive economic growth to improve living standards and fund sustainable investment in public services. This will be underpinned by a responsible approach to the public finances, reducing debt while reforming and cutting taxes. My Ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to its target.

A Bill will be brought forward to drive local growth, empowering local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensuring everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success. The planning system will be reformed to give residents more involvement in local development [Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill].

My Government will improve transport across the United Kingdom, delivering safer, cleaner services and enabling more innovations. Legislation will be introduced to modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers [Transport Bill].

My Ministers will bring forward an Energy Bill to deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy. This will build on the success of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow last year [Energy Security Bill]. Draft legislation to promote competition, strengthen consumer rights and protect households and businesses will be published. Measures will also be published to create new competition rules for digital markets and the largest digital firms [Draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill].

My Government will establish the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation, with objectives to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero [UK Infrastructure Bank Bill].

Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education [Schools Bill, Higher Education Bill]. My Ministers will publish draft legislation to reform the Mental Health Act [Draft Mental Health Act Reform Bill].

My Government will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth. Regulations on businesses will be repealed and reformed. A bill will enable law inherited from the European Union to be more easily amended [Brexit Freedoms Bill]. Public sector procurement will be simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses [Procurement Bill].

New legislation will strengthen the United Kingdom’s financial services industry, ensuring that it continues to act in the interest of all people and communities [Financial Services and Markets Bill]. The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed [Data Reform Bill].

My Government will continue to champion international trade, delivering jobs across the country and growing the economy. Legislation will be introduced to enable the implementation of the United Kingdom’s first new Free Trade Agreements since leaving the European Union [Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill].

My Ministers will encourage agricultural and scientific innovation at home. Legislation will unlock the potential of new technologies to promote sustainable and efficient farming and food production [Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill].

My Government will protect the integrity of the United Kingdom’s borders and ensure the safety of its people. My Ministers will take action to prevent dangerous and illegal Channel crossings and tackle the criminal gangs who profit from facilitating them. Legislation will be introduced to ensure the police have the powers to make the streets safer [Public Order Bill].

A bill will be brought forward to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow [Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill]. Measures will be introduced to support the security services and help them protect the United Kingdom [National Security Bill].

My Government will lead the way in championing security around the world. It will continue to invest in our gallant Armed Forces. My Ministers will work closely with international partners to maintain a united NATO and address the most pressing global security challenges.

The continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is of paramount importance to my Government, including the internal economic bonds between all of its parts. My Government will prioritise support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its institutions, including through legislation to address the legacy of the past [Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill].

My Government will ensure the constitution is defended. My Ministers will restore the balance of power between the legislature and the courts by introducing a Bill of Rights [Bill of Rights]. Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion [Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill].

My Government will introduce legislation to improve the regulation of social housing to strengthen the rights of tenants and ensure better quality, safer homes [Social Housing Regulation Bill]. Legislation will also be introduced to ban conversion therapy [Conversion Therapy Bill]. Proposals will be published to establish an independent regulator of English football.

In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, I look forward to the celebrations taking place across the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth, and to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Other measures will be laid before you.

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

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2 thoughts on “State Opening of Parliament 2022

  1. In spite of this being a year of the greatest celebratory significance due to the Queen’s amazing Platinum Jubilee, it is also a year of sobering events such as the easing of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the Queen’s own health difficulties. I pray that everything improves, including Her Majesty’s health so that she can enjoy the celebration her nation wants to give her. Does anyone know why the Duchess of Cambridge did not accompany the Duke? Was it because of the role he was representing. I kept reading that he was there as a Counsellor of State, so maybe that’s it, that he wasn’t there as the heir?

    1. The Cambridges were set to visit Manchester later in the day and William’s attendance was quite last minute, so probably Kate was preparing for the later engagement.

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