O is for Opening of Parliament

One of The Queen’s jobs is to open Parliament officially each year after the MPs have been on holiday. This is a special ceremony when The Queen travels to the Houses of Parliament in a horse-drawn carriage. She wears a long white dress.

The Imperial State Crown travels in its own carriage. When The Queen arrives at Westminster, she puts on the crown and reads a speech.

The speech explains what plans the government has for the next few months. The Queen does not write the speech but she reads it because she is Head of State.