Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will unveil her government's legislative plans for the coming year amid pomp and pageantry at Westminster later (speech 11.40 BST).
The state opening of Parliament will see her announce the laws the coalition government aims to pass before a general election in May 2015.
The Conservative - Liberal Democrat coalition says it will be 'unashamedly pro-work and pro-business.'
Opposition Labour say the speech will show the government has run out of ideas and is only promising 'more of the same'.
Reporter Tom Swarbrick has been looking at the history of the event and what it all symbolises.
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