All change as Charles steps up
YESTERDAY’S Queen’s Speech was inevitably dimmed after its 96-year-old star was reluctantly forced to pull out at the last moment after a historic unbroken run of nearly six decades.
Stepping up was the monarch’s long-time 73-year-old understudy, the Prince of Wales, supported by the Duke of Cambridge, making his debut at the State Opening of Parliament, and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Such was the last-minute change in the royal line-up, there had been no time to change the programme, which still had “The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty” in the starring role.
Prince Charles, in full ceremonial dress and with a sword at his side, was presented with the Queen’s Speech - setting out the Government’s upcoming plans by the Lord High Chancellor Dominic Raab, who notably did not risk going backwards down the steps from the throne as is traditional.
While the carefully orchestrated event will have been weeks in the planning, the heir to the throne took just nine minutes to read the royal address, delivered in an even tone, which belies the parliamentary battles that undoubtedly lie ahead over some of the legislative proposals.