Prince Charles is stepping in for the Queen for the state opening of Parliament for the first time.
A new Letters Patent authorised by the Queen was issued to cover the State Opening delegating to Counsellors of State the royal function of opening a new session of Parliament.
In this instance, it enables Charles and William to jointly exercise that function. No other functions have been delegated by the Queen.
The decision was taken yesterday.
Prince Charles will take on the duty for the first time.
Scott Heppell
The episodic mobility issues are said to be a continuation of the problems the Queen has suffered since the autumn.
Prince William (far side) leaves Buckingham Palace as he heads to the State Opening of Parliament
Steve Parsons
The Queen is understood to have a busy diary at Windsor this week with a call with Australia undertaken on Monday, and a planned virtual Privy Council and phone audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday.
The Imperial State Crown arrives at the Sovereign's Entrance to the Palace of Westminster ahead of the State Opening of Parliament.
Chris Jackson
She is expected to undertake some private engagements later in the week.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister fully respects the wishes of Her Majesty and is grateful to the Prince of Wales for agreeing to deliver the speech on her behalf.”
The Queen is understood to be watching the proceedings on television from Windsor Castle.
She will have her weekly phone audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday.
The Duke of Cambridge arrives ahead of the Queen's speech.
Chris Jackson
The last occasion the Queen was unable to attend the Queen's Speech was in 1963, due to her being pregnant at the time.
The only other occasion the monarch was unable to attend was in 1959, for the same reason.
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge walks past the The Household Cavalry at the Palace of Westminster ahead of the State Opening of Parliament.
Aaron Chown
The Duke of Cambridge has travelled separately to the Palace of Westminster ahead of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Prince Charles sits on the throne in the House of Lords.
Image: Parliament
He was led through the Palace of Westminster pausing at moments to greet dignitaries.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have arrived at the Palace of Westminster for the historic moment when Charles will read the Queen’s Speech.
Two mounted divisions of the Household Cavalry formed two rows at Horse Guards Parade creating a “secure passage” the royal party’s limousine travelled through on its way to parliament.
Charles has cited the need to "ease the cost of living" as he opened his address.
The Prince of Wales said legislation will reform the planning system to give residents more involvement in local development.
Charles added: “A Bill will be brought forward to drive local growth, empowering local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensuring everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success.”
Legislation in the form of a Transport Bill will be introduced to “modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers”, the Prince of Wales said.
The Prince of Wales says the Government will bring forward an energy bill that will "deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy".
The Government “will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth”, the Prince of Wales told Parliament.
The data protection regime will be reformed and the financial services industry will be strengthened, Charles said.
Laws would also be introduced to implement the UK’s first free trade agreements since Brexit, he added.
Prince Charles says Her Majesty is "looking forward" to Platinum Jubilee celebrations that are taking place across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
