QUEEN BACK IN THE OFFICE ... AT 95
ALONE ON THE THRONE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE PHILIP’S DEATH
THE Queen has led Britain back to work – opening parliament for the 67th time of her reign, just a month since the death of her husband Prince Philip.
As lockdown eases and millions of workers return to offices, she travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster to deliver the Queen’s Speech, setting out the government’s new bills.
In a pared-down ceremony, reflecting her 95th birthday in April and Covid restrictions, she chose an outfit and hat by her favourite dressmaker Angela Kelly instead of her crown and robes.
She sat on the Palace of Westminster sovereign’s throne – but, poignantly, the consort’s throne next to it, where Philip used to sit, was missing. Instead, the th Q Queen was supported by son Prince P i Charles who held her hand as she walked through the historic building to deliver the annual address.
Her speech – at just 937 words and taking 8min 52sec – was the shortest since 2016. In it she revealed Boris Johnsons Johnson’s plans to ‘build build back better’ better
after the pandemic – as well as a controversial bill for ballot box photographic ID. Proposals to reform social care and ‘level up’ Britain were delayed again, with promises that details would be revealed later.
Afterwards, as the Queen met people involved in the ceremony, she gestured animatedly, holding her white-gloved hands apart, and gave a broad smile.
Before their debate, MPs hailed the Queen’s first major public ceremonial duty since Philip’s funeral on April 17.
Conservative MP Katherine Fletcher seconded their vote of thanks adding: ‘It is an honour to second the Humble Address to Her Majesty, who, despite a difficult year, well, let’s face it, is still flippin’ ace.’ Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘This was Her Majesty’s 67th Queen’s Speech, at a time of incredible personal loss it must have been one of the hardest to deliver as she did this morning.’
The Queen had returned to London for the first time in six months before the speech, after staying at Windsor Castle since November. She has missed only two state openings in her 69-year reign – in 1959 and 1963 when she was pregnant and her speech was read for her by the Lord Chancellor.