No pageantry just ceremony but the occasion seems as majestic as ever

THE Queen took centre stage in Parliament yesterday and performed her role with her customary professionalism.

The 93-year-old monarch’s Christmas trip to Sandringham was delayed by the General Election.

But in the course of nine minutes and 14 seconds, she outlined her new Government’s programme to members of the House of Commons and House of

Lords. The State Opening of Parliament is normally the most colourful event in the parliamentary calendar but this was a pared-down ceremony.

It was the 68th Queen’s Speech of Elizabeth II’s reign and the 66th she has delivered

– in 1959 and 1963, she was pregnant so the Lord Chancellor read the documents.

Yesterday lacked the normal pomp and pageantry because of the unexpected election’s proximity to Christmas.

Just as in 2017 when another early election close to Trooping the Colour meant the military and the Royal Household had insufficient time to plan the usual spectacle, there were no crowns or carriages.

The Queen travelled by limousine rather than horsedrawn state coach and wore a day dress and hat not the Imperial State Crown.

She was accompanied by Prince Charles, who has taken over since the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement from public life. But some ceremonial elements were preserved.

The Queen’s Guard turned out as she left Buckingham Palace and Household Cavalry troopers, in breastplates and plumed helmets, lined the steps in the Palace of Westminster.