King Charles III
Today, Charles III broke a 70-year tradition by delivering the first King’s Speech and offering a heartfelt tribute to his ‘dear mother,’ Queen Elizabeth II, during the State Opening of Parliament.
While addressing Members of Parliament in the House of Lords this morning, he expressed the profound impact of Her Majesty’s ‘remarkable dedication and service,’ all while having his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side.
In honoring his mother, the King, donned in the Imperial State Crown, was continuing a tradition set by the Queen, who affectionately mentioned her father when inaugurating Parliament for the first time in November 1952.
The previous King’s Speech took place in 1950 when King George delivered it during Britain’s engagement in the Korean War. Unfortunately, he was too unwell to open Parliament the following year and passed away in February 1952, leading to his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, assuming the throne.
Commencing his address with a tribute to his mother, the King proceeded to deliver the words prepared for him, outlining the government’s policy program.
The primary initiatives detailed in the King’s Speech included:
- Whole life jail terms to be the norm for most serious offenders, but more short sentences will be suspended;
- The worst criminals will be ‘compelled’ to attend sentencing, although it is not spelled out how;
- Sharing naked images without consent is to be made a criminal offence;
- Mr. Sunak promised to create a ‘smoke-free generation’ with a law banning children currently aged 14 or under from ever buying cigarettes;
- Create an annual regime for licensing new oil and gas drilling the North Sea, something that has been rejected by Labour;
- Paving the way for driverless buses and delivery vans by 2035, including protecting passengers from being punished for crashes caused by computers;
- Curbing so-called ‘subscription traps’ that tie people into regular payments, and ‘drip pricing’ where companies bolt on costs to the up-front price they advertise;
- Public bodies will be prevented from taking part in BDS boycotts of Israel, as a law makes progress on creating an Holocaust Memorial
King Charles III and His Wife Queen Camilla.
Charles donned the Imperial State Crown, his elaborate crimson Robe of State, and the Royal Naval Admiral of the Fleet dress uniform for his carriage procession from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords, marking a grand royal celebration. He continued to wear the crown on his journey back to Buckingham Palace after his coronation.
Camilla, adorned in the renowned George IV State Diadem for the first time, opted to re-wear her coronation gown, designed by Bruce Oldfield, for her inaugural State Opening as a Queen consort.
In his address, Charles unveiled plans for those found guilty of the most heinous murders to receive whole life orders, ensuring they remain incarcerated for life, while also making it clear that rapists and other serious sexual offenders will not be eligible for early release from their prison sentences.
However, these strict measures are counterbalanced by the introduction of a ‘presumption’ that sentences of one year or less will be suspended.
Since 2016, seven years have passed without a monarch wearing the Imperial State Crown during a State Opening.
This stunning crown boasts a remarkable collection of 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, five rubies, and 269 pearls, and it exceeds a weight of over one kilogram.