Speech from the throne

"Queen's Speech" redirects here. For the UK ceremony at which the Queen's Speech takes place, see State Opening of Parliament. For the Christmas Day broadcast, see Royal Christmas Message.

Governor General the Lord Tweedsmuir giving the Speech From the Throne to the Canadian parliament in 1938

A speech from the throne (or throne speech) is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign, or a representative thereof, reads a prepared speech to the members of parliament when a session is opened, outlining the government's agenda for the session. This event is often held annually, although in some places it may occur more or less frequently, whenever a new session of parliament is opened. Many republics have adopted a similar practice in which the head of state, often a president, addresses the legislature; for example, in the United States, the president makes an annual State of the Union address.

Historically, when monarchs exercised personal power in government, a speech from the throne would outline the policies and objectives of the monarch; as such the speech was usually prepared by the monarch's advisers, but the monarch supervised the drafting of the speech at least to some extent and exercised final discretion as to its content. In constitutional monarchies today, whether by law or by convention, the head of state (or representative thereof) reads the Speech From the Throne, but it is prepared by the ministers of the crown in cabinet. The address reports on the condition of the nation and sets forth the government's priorities with respect to its legislative agenda, for which the cooperation of parliament is sought.

Commonwealth realms

King Henry VIII at the opening of the Parliament of England at Bridewell Palace, 1523

In the Commonwealth realms, the speech from the throne marks the opening of parliament. The speech, in its modern form, is in fact written by the Prime Minister and his fellow members of the Government Cabinet, and it outlines the legislative programme for the new parliamentary session. By tradition, the King's or Queen's Speech takes place in the House of Lords, and the tradition was carried over to Canada and Australia, and the Speech from the Throne takes place, mirroring the British tradition, in the Senate of Canada and in the Senate of the Australian Commonwealth Parliament, respectively, with members of both houses in attendance. In unicameral parliaments, the speech is delivered in the sole chamber.

In the United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech, also known as the Gracious Address, but otherwise and usually known as the Queen's Speech, is typically read by the reigning sovereign at the State Opening of Parliament; this occurs annually in May (prior to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 the state opening usually occurred 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; Queen Elizabeth II did this in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively, having the Lord Chancellor deliver the address instead.

In those countries which share with the United Kingdom the same person as their reigning sovereign, the Speech from the Throne will usually be read on the monarch's behalf by his or her governor-general, although the monarch may also deliver the address in person: Queen Elizabeth II read the Throne Speech in the Parliament of New Zealand in 1954, 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, Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), read the Speech from the Throne in the Canadian parliament.

In the Irish Free State, the governor-general delivered the Governor-General's Address to Dáil Éireann, which, unusually, was delivered in what amounted to the lower house of the parliament of that country. Only two speeches were ever made, in 1922 and 1923.

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell on the throne of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, from where she delivers the Speech from the Throne

In the Australian states, the respective 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 respective lieutenant governor delivers the speech; it is uncertain whether the Canadian monarch can do the same in any legislature of a Canadian province. Only in Quebec is there no Speech from the Throne (in French: Discours du Trône): Since 1973, the lieutenant governor has delivered a short inaugural address or Allocution, after which the premier reads his or her Opening Speech (Discours d'ouverture), called the Message inaugural from 1974 to 1984.

In each of the Canadian territories, the commissioner reads the Throne Speech or Opening Address to the legislature.

In several British overseas territories which have instituted this practice, and also calling it "the Speech from the Throne", the respective governor delivers the speech.

There is no equivalent of the Queen's Speech in the Scottish Parliament, in the National Assembly of Wales, or in the Northern Ireland Assembly, with the nearest equivalent being 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. So far, Queen Elizabeth II has been present and has given 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.

The address is followed by a debate and vote in both houses or the one house of parliament. Formally, the motion merely calls on parliament to thank the monarch or viceroy for the speech 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 poll is held to constitute a motion of confidence in the government, which, if lost, would result in the end of that government's mandate. In some legislatures, this discussion and vote follows a symbolic raising of other matters, designed to highlight the independence of parliament from the Crown. In the British House of Commons, the other business raised is by tradition the Outlawries Bill. In the Canadian House of Commons, 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. In Australia and New Zealand, by contrast, no pro forma bills are introduced; there, the respective houses of representatives instead consider some brief and non-controversial business items before debating the Address in Reply.

Other countries

The throne of the Ridderzaal, from which the monarch of the Netherlands delivers the Throne Speech on the Prince's Day

Other monarchies, such as the Netherlands (Prince's Day) and Norway, have very similar throne speech ceremonies.

In Japan, the Emperor makes only a short speech of greeting during the Diet opening ceremony; he does not refer to any government policies, instead allowing the prime minister to address political matters. Similarly, in Sweden, since the mid-1970s, the monarch, at the request of the Speaker of the Riksdag, gives a short symbolic address ending with the monarch declaring the annual session of the Riksdag (Swedish: Riksmötet) to be opened, and is immediately followed by the prime minister's statement of government agenda (Swedish: Regeringsförklaring) for the forthcoming legislative year.

In Thailand, the monarch makes a speech at a joint session in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, advising the National Assembly in their work. Malaysia also has the same practice, with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong making such an address to the Parliament of Malaysia in joint session during its state opening yearly every March.

Many republics also hold a yearly event in which the president gives a speech to a joint session of the legislature, such as the State of the Union address given by the President of the United States or the State of the Nation Address by the President of the Philippines. Often such are on or near the first day of the legislature's new session.

See also

• State of the Nation (disambiguation)
• National Day Rally
• Royal Christmas Message

External links

Canada

• Speech from the Throne
• Parliament of Canada records of past Speeches from the Throne and Motions for Address in Reply

United Kingdom

• Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2009 - BBC
• Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2008 - BBC
• Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2007 - BBC
• Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2006 - BBC
• Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2005 - BBC
• All speeches in Parliament by the Queen - They Work For You