Pomp, Pageantry And Politics

The coach carrying Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves Buckingham Palace to attend the state opening of Parliament, in London, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. During the journey from her London residence to the Houses of Parliament, the Queen was surrounded by a number of horse-riding military personnel from the Household Cavalry.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II looks out the window of the gilded horse-drawn state coach as it leaves Buckingham Palace to attend the state opening of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. The annual ceremony takes place in the House of Lords where elected members of Parliament are summoned to hear the Queen's Speech, which outlines the government's program, and formally opens the next session of Parliament.

A member of the Queen's foot guards yawns before the state opening of Parliament on Nov. 6, 2007, in London. The Queen's Speech, the first for Prime Minister Gordon Brown, introduced legislative bills on education, immigration, housing and counter-terrorism.

The Yeoman of the Guard stand on the terrace after completing their ceremonial search of the Houses of Parliament, part of their ceremonial duties, during the state opening of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. The vaults of Parliament have been searched since the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in which a group of Catholic conspirators planned to blow up Parliament and King James I.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is assisted by her husband, Prince Philip, as she arrives at the Sovereign entrance to the House of Lords in London, Nov. 6, 2007, for the ceremonial state opening of Parliament in London.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the House of Lords in London, for the state opening of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Queen Elizabeth read a speech prepared for her by the government, setting out the legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary session.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles during the state opening of Parliament at the House of Lords in London, Tuesday Nov. 6, 2007. Rich in ceremony and symbolism, lawmakers and others crowded the House of Lords to hear the monarch read a speech written for her by the government.

Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister, sits in the House of Lords in London Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, to listen to the Queen's Speech during the state opening of Parliament.

The Imperial State Crown is presented to the guards in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, in London, Tuesday Nov. 6, 2007, before being worn by Queen Elizabeth II during the ceremony of the state opening of Parliament. The crown, which is displayed in the Tower of London, was carried in a carriage from Buckingham Palace to the ceremony in the House of Lords.

Wearing the Robe of State and the Imperial State Crown, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pass through the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, in London, Tuesday Nov. 6, 2007. The crown is studded with more than 2,000 diamonds.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip walk through the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, in Westminster, in London, Nov. 6, 2007, during the state opening of Parliament. The Queen formally outlined the British government's legislative plans for the future, including tougher laws on immigration, new anti-terror measures, and ground-breaking proposals to deal with climate change issues.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives for the state opening of Parliament at the House of Lords in London, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. The monarch is not allowed in the House of Commons, so the event is held in Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords, where elected members are summoned to hear the Queen's Speech, which outlines the government's legislative agenda.

Law Lords sit on the cross benches as they wait to hear the Queen's Speech in the House of Lords in London Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. The annual ceremony takes place in the House of Lords where elected members of Parliament are summoned to hear the Queen's Speech, which outlines the government's program, and formally opens the next session of Parliament.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the Imperial State Crown, reads the Queen's Speech from a gilded throne in the House of Lords in London Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, during the state opening of Parliament. The speech, written for her by Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government, was a chance for Brown, who took over from Tony Blair in June, to set his stamp on the legislative agenda.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the Imperial State Crown, reads the Queen's Speech from the throne in the House of Lords in London Nov. 6, 2007, during the annual state opening of Parliament. The speech, a colorful blend of pomp and politics, included nearly 30 proposed bills ranging from housing and the environment to immigration and education.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip walk back through the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords following the monarch's speech before Parliament on Nov. 6, 2007. The British government unveiled its legislative plans for the coming year in the traditional pomp of the Queen's Speech. Pledges to do more on counter-terrorism, climate change and education were featured among key points in the address.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves the House of Lords in London following the state opening of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. In her speech, the government affirmed its commitment to nation-building in Iraq and Afghanistan and tackling the spread of weapons of mass destruction, which the queen says includes "international concerns over Iran's nuclear intentions."

The coach carrying Britain's Queen Elizabeth II returns to Buckingham Palace following the state opening of Parliament, in London, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II looks down as she returns to Buckingham palace after the state opening of Parliament on Nov. 6, 2007, in London.

Queen Elizabeth II's carriage travels from the state opening of Parliament to Buckingham Palace on Nov. 6, 2007, in London. The Queen's Speech, the first for new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, introduced legislative bills on education, immigration, housing and counter-terrorism.

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