King Charles delivers government’s legislative programme at the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 13th May, setting out proposed new laws amid a turbulent political backdrop for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The King’s Speech delivered at 11:30 BST, as Starmer arrived in Parliament following the 17-minute meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is viewed by some as a potential leadership rival.
In his address, King Charles formally outlines the government’s planned agenda for the coming parliamentary session, presenting the executive’s priorities for new legislation.
The ceremony takes3 place against growing political instability, with four ministers resigning in recent days and more than 80 Labour MPs urging Starmer to step down immediately or set out a timetable for his departure.
Despite the pressure, Starmer allies insisted there was no unified challenge to his leadership. Nick Thomas-Symonds said MPs had not coalesced around any candidate capable of triggering a formal leadership contest.
Meanwhile, more than 100 Labour MPs signed a separate statement expressing continued support for the Prime Minister, arguing that it was not the time for internal party division.
Inside Parliament, ceremonial traditions accompanied the occasion, including the Yeomen of the Guard conducting the historic security search ahead of the King’s arrival.
The ritual, which dates back to the 1605 Gunpowder Plot involving Guy Fawkes, remains a symbolic reminder of Parliament’s security traditions.
The State Opening also featuredms longstanding royal customs, including the symbolic “hostage” practice, where MPs are notionally held at Buckingham Palace during the King’s attendance in Parliament.
