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In Pictures: Pomp and pageantry as Charles delivers his first King’s Speech

The King’s Speech set out the Government’s priorities for the year ahead.

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The King opened Parliament on Tuesday for the first time as monarch with a return to the full pomp and ceremony of the occasion.

Charles donned the Imperial State Crown, his lengthy crimson Robe of State and Admiral of the Fleet Royal Naval dress uniform, having travelled in a carriage procession from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords in the Diamond State Coach.

Camilla, wearing the George IV State Diadem for the first time, chose to re-use her coronation gown for her first state opening as a Queen.

State Opening of Parliament
The King and Queen during the state opening of Parliament (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

It is the first state opening of Parliament by Charles as King, although he delivered the last Queen’s Speech of Elizabeth II’s reign in place of his mother last year.

Due to the late Queen’s long reign, it is the first King’s Speech since George VI opened Parliament in 1950.

State Opening of Parliament
The Yeoman of the Guard Ceremonial Search takes place. The Ceremonial Search represents the finding of gunpowder in the cellars of Parliament in the gunpowder plot of 1605 (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
Princess Antonia, Duchess of Wellington waits for the start of the state opening of Parliament (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
Soldiers march along The Mall in London, ahead of the state opening of Parliament (James Manning/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
Baroness Charlotte Owen chats to a colleague in the Lords (Leon Neal/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
The King’s Guard march outside Buckingham Palace (James Manning/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
The chamber of the House of Lords fills up ahead of the King’s Speech (Leon Neal/PA)

Some members of the public made their opposition to the monarchy clear in a demonstration outside the Palace of Westminster.

State Opening of Parliament
Anti-monarchy pressure group Republic protest outside the Palace of Westminster (Gareth Fuller/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
The Mace was carried in a horse-drawn carriage outside the Palace of Westminster (Daniel Leal/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
The King and Queen arrive at the Sovereign’s Entrance to the Palace of Westminster (Victoria Jones/PA)
State Opening of Parliament
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer walk through the Central Lobby at the Palace of Westminster ahead of the state opening of Parliament in the House of Lords (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
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