In an annual ceremony for the official opening of Parliament, Queen Elizabeth read a speech prepared for her by the government outlining the legislative agenda for the year. Topics included national ID cards, new measures to fight crime and drugs, and the referendum on the European Union constitution.

Members of both the House of Commons and House of Lords took part in the State Opening of Parliament. This was the Queen’s 51st State Opening. BBC coverage of the annual event included the Queen’s trip by carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster and the pageantry associated with the traditional ceremonies. BBC commentator Huw Edwards anchored this event and talked to former Conservative Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith and others during the program.