Watch live: King Charles delivers Speech for first time as monarch at State Opening of Parliament

7 Nov 2023 • 6:41 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Watch live as King Charles III delivers the King's Speech for first time as monarch at the state opening of Parliament on Tuesday, 7 November.

The King will read out a speech setting out the legislative programme for the new parliamentary session, but he has no role in setting this agenda - he will read out the list on behalf of Rishi Sunak and the government.

This year's speech - the first King's Speech in seven decades after the death of Queen Elizabeth II - is expected to set out sentencing reforms, a smoking crackdown and a move to phase out leasehold.

With a general election predicted in 2024, the prime minister is expected to seek to make law and order a key election battleground.

Mr Sunak is expected to detail a series of measures in the King’s Speech promising tougher sentences for killers, rapists, and grooming gang ringleaders, and the speech could also introduce a law that would stop children who turn 14 this year and those younger from ever legally buying cigarettes or tobacco in England.

The smoking law was promised by Mr Sunak at the Tory conference.

Other measures in the speech include allowing police to enter a property without a warrant to seize stolen goods, such as phones, when they have reasonable proof that a specific stolen item is inside.