Terminology In the United Kingdom, the speech is known as ''His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech
, the Gracious Address
, or, less formally, the King's Speech
(or Queen's Speech
, when the reigning monarch is female). In Canada, it is known as the Speech from the Throne
(often shortened to Throne Speech
) (in French: Discours du Trône
). Since 1973, the lieutenant governor of Quebec has delivered a short inaugural address termed the Allocution
, after which the premier reads his or her Discours d'ouverture
(Opening Speech), called the Message inaugural'' from 1974 to 1984. In
Hong Kong, the governor's address was termed the
Policy Address during
Chris Patten's governorship. In the
Irish Free State, the
governor-general delivered the ''
Governor-General's Address to Dáil Éireann''; only two were ever given, in 1922 and 1923.
History at the opening of the
Parliament of England at
Bridewell Palace, 1523 In the
Commonwealth realms, the speech from the throne is an oration that forms part of a ceremony marking the
opening of parliament. Some records indicate the ceremony has taken place since the
Middle Ages, while others place its origins in the 16th century, when England was still an
absolute monarchy. The speech explained to parliament the reasons it was summoned and sometimes set out the sovereign's policies and objectives. The monarch would sometimes speak to parliament in person;
Edward III (in 1365),
Richard II, and
Edward IV did so to both houses of parliament on multiple separate occasions. who was then the
prolocutor, or chairman of the House of Lords. It was given on his behalf by the
bishop of Winchester in 1410; in 1453 and 1467, the
bishop of Lincoln; the
bishop of Rochester in 1472; and the
keeper of the Privy Seal in 1431. and outlines the legislative programme for the new parliamentary session. Due to the parliamentary tradition of the sovereign being barred from the lower chamber, in those realms possessing a
bicameral parliament, the ceremony takes place in the legislature's
upper chamber, with members of both houses in attendance. In most
unicameral parliaments, the speech is read in the one legislative chamber. Unusually, in the Irish Free State, the speech was delivered in the lower house of its bicameral parliament. In the United Kingdom, the speech is typically read by the reigning sovereign at the
State Opening of Parliament. Traditions surrounding the opening and the speech go back to the 16th century. The present ceremony dates from 1852, when the
Palace of Westminster was rebuilt after
the 1834 fire. The ceremony now usually occurs annually, usually in November or December, or soon after a general election. The monarch may, however, appoint a delegate to perform the task in his or her place.
Elizabeth II did this during her pregnancies in 1959 and 1963, when it was delivered instead by the Lord Chancellor; and again due to ill health in 2022, when it was delivered by Prince Charles (now
Charles III); he and
Prince William were acting as
Counsellors of State. (left, seated with
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, right) delivers the Speech from the Throne from the
Canadian Senate throne, 1957. In those countries that
share a sovereign with the UK, the speech from the throne will usually be read on the monarch's behalf by his or her
viceroy, the
governor-general, although the monarch may deliver the address in person: Queen Elizabeth II read the Throne Speech in the
Parliament of New Zealand in 1954, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1986, and 1990, the
Parliament of Australia in 1954 and 1974, and the
Parliament of Canada in 1957 and 1977. Another member of the
royal family may also perform this duty, such as when, on 1 September 1919, the Prince of Wales (later King
Edward VIII) read the Speech From the Throne in the Canadian parliament. On two occasions, the
administrator of the Government delivered the address to the Parliament of Canada: 16 May 1963 and 30 September 1974. Charles III read the
speech from the throne in Canada on 27 May 2025. In the
Australian states, the relevant
governor reads the speech, though the
Australian monarch may also perform the task: Queen Elizabeth II opened the parliaments of some of the Australian states in 1954 and of New South Wales in 1992. In almost all the
Canadian provinces, the relevant
lieutenant governor delivers the speech; it is uncertain whether the
Canadian monarch can do the same in any legislature of a Canadian province. In
Quebec, however, the speech is referred to as the "Opening Address" (). In each of the Canadian territories, the commissioner reads the Throne Speech or Opening Address to the legislature. delivers the throne speech as the
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, the monarch's representative in that province. In British overseas territories that have instituted this practice, the relevant governor delivers the speech. A throne speech is not typical in the devolved legislatures within the United Kingdom; the nearest equivalent is a statement of the legislative agenda of the executive branch, usually given by a first minister. However, the British monarch often undertakes visits and speaks to the devolved bodies in a less official capacity. During her reign Queen Elizabeth II was present and gave an address at all openings of the
Scottish parliament, usually speaking reflectively upon its accomplishments and wishing the institution well for its coming term rather than considering the plans of the executive. It is considered improper for the audience, including members of parliament, to show support or disapproval for any content of the speech while it is being read: that is reserved to the debate and vote that follows in legislative chambers or chamber. In 1998 in the UK, when the Queen read out the proposed
House of Lords Act 1999,
Labour Party MPs briefly interrupted it by vocalising support while
Conservative peers responded with "shame!". Protest, though, has been expressed during a throne speech, such as when, in 2011,
Brigette DePape, a
page in the Canadian Senate, interrupted Governor General
David Johnston's reading of the Speech From the Throne by standing and holding a sign calling for the then Prime Minister,
Stephen Harper, to be stopped.
Address in reply , speaks during the Address in Reply debate. Formally, the motion that follows the speech merely calls on parliament to thank the monarch or viceroy via an Address in Reply. The debate is, however, often wide-ranging, exploring many aspects of the government's proposed policies, and spread over several days. When the Address in Reply is eventually voted on, the vote, if an amendment expressing lack of confidence in the monarch or viceroy's ministers is moved and carried, is held to constitute a
Motion of no confidence in the government, resulting in the end of that government's mandate. In some legislatures, this discussion and vote is preceded by a symbolic raising of other matters, designed to highlight the independence of parliament from the Crown; a practice that originated after
King Charles I was tried and executed by parliament. In the
British House of Commons, the other business raised is by tradition the
Outlawries Bill, while the
House of Lords reads the
Select Vestries Bill; neither proceeds past the
first reading. In the
House of Commons of Canada, the bill considered is
Bill C-1, an Act Respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office, while in the
Senate, it is
Bill S-1, an Act Relating to Railways. The texts of these two bills have nothing to do with either
oaths of office or
railways; instead, they contain near-identical wordings that explain their
pro forma function. ==Other equivalents==