Trumpets & tradition on display as King Charles presides over Parl opening

King Charles III will officially open the new session of Parliament on Wednesday, donning his ceremonial robes and the crown of state to deliver a speech laying out the legislative program of the U.K.'s first left-leaning government in 14 years.

The state opening of Parliament is one of the traditional set pieces of the political year, showcasing through carefully choreographed pageantry Britain's evolution from an absolute monarchy to a parliamentary democracy where real power is vested in the elected House of Commons.

Here's a brief look at the history of the King's Speech and how it unfolds.

What is the King's Speech?

In simple terms, it is a speech that lays out the government's legislative program for the coming year.

The speech is written by the elected government, currently led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and delivered by the king during a joint session of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The event is a symbol of the monarch's constitutional role as head of