Aspeech from the throne, orthrone speech, is an event in certainmonarchies in which the reigning sovereign, or their representative, reads a prepared speech to members of the nation'slegislature when asession is opened. The address sets forth the government's priorities for its legislative agenda, for which the cooperation of the legislature is sought. The speech is often accompanied by formal ceremony. It is often held annually, although in some places it may occur more or less frequently, whenever a new session of the legislature is opened.
Historically, when monarchs exercised personal influence and overall decision-making in government, a speech from the throne would outline the policies and objectives of the monarch; 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 modernconstitutional monarchies, whether by law or by convention, the head of state or their representative reads the speech from the throne, but it is prepared by the ministers incabinet. The event continues to be practiced in theCommonwealth realms, where it is also known as theKing's Speech (orQueen's Speech if the reigning monarch is female) in the United Kingdom.[1] In theNetherlands, it is held onPrince's Day.[2]
In addition to monarchies, manyrepublics have adopted a similar practice in which thehead of state, often apresident, addresses the legislature. Inparliamentary republics where the president is merely a ceremonial figurehead, these speeches are often similar in tone to the throne speech of a constitutional monarchy, whereas inpresidential systems, the speeches are somewhat different in that the president exercises personal discretion over the content but the principle ofseparation of powers means the legislature is not obligated to follow whatever agenda (if any) may be contained in such a speech.
In the United Kingdom, the speech is known asHis Majesty's Most Gracious Speech, theGracious Address, or, less formally, theKing's Speech (orQueen's Speech, when the reigning monarch is female). In Canada, it is known as theSpeech from the Throne (often shortened toThrone Speech) (in French:Discours du Trône). Since 1973, thelieutenant governor of Quebec has delivered a short inaugural address termed theAllocution, after whichthe premier reads his or herDiscours d'ouverture (Opening Speech), called theMessage inaugural from 1974 to 1984.
InHong Kong, the governor's address was termed thePolicy Address duringChris Patten's governorship. In theIrish Free State, thegovernor-general delivered theGovernor-General's Address to Dáil Éireann; only two were ever given, in 1922 and 1923.
In theCommonwealth realms, the speech from the throne is an oration that forms part of a ceremony marking theopening of parliament.[3] Some records indicate the ceremony has taken place since theMiddle Ages,[4] while others place its origins in the 16th century,[5] when England was still anabsolute monarchy.[6] The speech explained to parliament the reasons it was summoned and sometimes set out the sovereign's policies and objectives.[7] The monarch would sometimes speak to parliament in person;Edward III (in 1365),Richard II, andEdward IV did so to both houses of parliament on multiple separate occasions.[7]
However, various other figures gave the oration on the sovereign's behalf: between 1347 and 1363, it was read by the chief justice; in 1401 by the chief justice of theCommon Pleas; in 1344, 1368, 1377 (speaking for a presiding Edward III[7]), 1399, and 1422, by thearchbishop of Canterbury; and in 1343, 1363, and, usually after 1368, by thelord chancellor[4][8] who was then theprolocutor, or chairman of the House of Lords. It was given on his[clarification needed] behalf by thebishop of Winchester in 1410; in 1453 and 1467, thebishop of Lincoln; thebishop of Rochester in 1472; and thekeeper of the Privy Seal in 1431.[8] It may have been written by or with the input of the king's or queen's advisers, but, the monarch, as supreme governor, was the principal author.[citation needed]
Today, within the tenets ofconstitutional monarchy, the speech is written by the sittingcabinet,[3] with or without the reader's participation,[9] and outlines the legislative programme for the new parliamentary session.[10] Due to the parliamentary tradition of the sovereign being barred from the lower chamber,[9][11] in those realms possessing abicameral parliament, the ceremony takes place in the legislature'supper chamber,[12] with members of both houses in attendance. In mostunicameral parliaments, the speech is read in the one legislative chamber. Unusually, in the Irish Free State, the speech was delivered in the lower house of its bicameral parliament.
In the United Kingdom, the speech is typically read by the reigning sovereign at theState Opening of Parliament. Traditions surrounding the opening and the speech go back to the 16th century. The present ceremony dates from 1852, when thePalace of Westminster was rebuilt after the 1834 fire. The ceremony now usually occurs annually, usually in November or December, or soon after a general election.[13] The monarch may, however, appoint a delegate to perform the task in his or her place.Elizabeth II did this during her pregnancies in 1959 and 1963, when it was delivered instead by the Lord Chancellor; and again due to ill health in 2022, when it was delivered by Prince Charles (nowCharles III); he andPrince William were acting asCounsellors of State.[14]
In those countries that share with the UK the same person as their respective sovereign, the speech from the throne will usually be read on the monarch's behalf by his or herviceroy, thegovernor-general, although the monarch may deliver the address in person: Queen Elizabeth II read the Throne Speech in theParliament of New Zealand in 1954, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1986, and 1990, theParliament of Australia in 1954 and 1974,[15] and theParliament of Canada in 1957 and 1977. Another member of theroyal family may also perform this duty, such as when, on 1 September 1919, the Prince of Wales (later KingEdward VIII) read the Speech From the Throne in the Canadian parliament. On two occasions, theadministrator of the Government delivered the address to the Parliament of Canada: 16 May 1963 and 30 September 1974.[16] Charles III read thespeech from the throne in Canada on 27 May 2025.
In theAustralian states, the relevantgovernor reads the speech, though theAustralian 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 theCanadian provinces, the relevantlieutenant governor delivers the speech; it is uncertain whether theCanadian monarch can do the same in any legislature of a Canadian province. InQuebec, however, the speech is referred to as the "Opening Address" (French:Allocution d'ouverture).[17] In each of the Canadian territories, the commissioner reads the Throne Speech or Opening Address to the legislature.
In British overseas territories that have instituted this practice, the relevant governor delivers the speech. A throne speech is not typical in the devolved legislatures within the United Kingdom; the nearest equivalent is a statement of the legislative agenda of the executive branch, usually given by a first minister.[18] However, the British monarch often undertakes visits and speaks to the devolved bodies in a less official capacity. During her reign Queen Elizabeth II was present and gave an address at all openings of theScottish parliament, usually speaking reflectively upon its accomplishments and wishing the institution well for its coming term rather than considering the plans of the executive.
It is considered improper for the audience, including members of parliament, to show support or disapproval for any content of the speech while it is being read: that is reserved to the debate and vote that follows in legislative chambers or chamber.[19] In 1998 in the UK, when the Queen read out the proposedHouse of Lords Act 1999,Labour Party MPs briefly interrupted it by vocalising support whileConservative peers responded with "shame!".[20] Protest, though, has been expressed during a throne speech, such as when, in 2011,Brigette DePape, apage in the Canadian Senate, interrupted Governor GeneralDavid Johnston's reading of the Speech From the Throne by standing and holding a sign calling for the then Prime Minister,Stephen Harper, to be stopped.[21]
Formally, the motion that follows the speech merely calls on parliament to thank the monarch or viceroy 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 vote, if an amendment expressing lack of confidence in the monarch or viceroy's ministers is moved and carried, is held to constitute aMotion of no confidence in the government, resulting in the end of that government's mandate.[22] In some legislatures, this discussion and vote is preceded by a symbolic raising of other matters, designed to highlight the independence of parliament from the Crown; a practice that originated afterKing Charles I was tried and executed by parliament.[23] In theBritish House of Commons, the other business raised is by tradition theOutlawries Bill, while theHouse of Lords reads theSelect Vestries Bill; neither proceeds past thefirst reading. In theHouse of Commons of Canada, the bill considered isBill C-1, an Act Respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office,[24] while in theSenate, it isBill S-1, an Act Relating to Railways.[25] The texts of these two bills have nothing to do with eitheroaths of office orrailways; instead, they contain near-identical wordings that explain theirpro forma function.[24][25] In Australia and New Zealand, by contrast, nopro 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.[26][27]
In Japan, theemperor makes only a short speech of greeting during theNational Diet opening ceremony;[28] he does not refer to any government policies, instead allowing thePrime Minister to address political matters.
Malaysia also has the same practice, with theYang di-Pertuan Agong making such an address to theParliament of Malaysia in joint session during its state opening yearly every March.
Theking addressesparliament at the beginning of its yearly session on the second Friday of October. The speech may only be legally binding if it is read before both houses of parliament.[29]
In the Netherlands, the speech from the throne is held annually on the third Tuesday in September, which is calledPrinsjesdag (Prince's Day).[30] Article 65 of the constitution states that "A statement of the policy to be pursued by the Government is given by or on behalf of the King before a joint session of the two Houses of the States General that is held every year on the third Tuesday in September or on such earlier date as may be prescribed by Act of Parliament."
The monarch travels fromNoordeinde Palace by coach to theRidderzaal (Hall of Knights) in theBinnenhof of The Hague to read the speech before ajoint session of theStates General.[31] Following the speech, the president of the joint session calls out 'Long live the King!’ after which the monarch is greeted with three cheers. The monarch and his retinue leave and the joint session is declared to be closed. The monarch returns to the palace in the coach and, along with other members of the royal house, appears on the palace balcony.[32] Following the 1983 revision of the constitution, a parliamentary session changed from lasting a year to lasting for four years. As a result, the speech no longer marks the opening of a session of parliament but the start of a new parliamentary year.[33]
In Norway, the monarch is required by article 74 of theconstitution to preside over the opening of a session of theStorting (which happens every October) after it has been declared to be legally constituted by the president of the Storting.[34][35] The monarch delivers the speech before parliamentarians in thechamber of the Storting. The heir to the throne also regularly accompanies the monarch.[35]
Upon the monarch's arrival in the chamber, the members of the Storting stand and the first verse of the royal anthem,Kongesangen, is sung.[36] The monarch is handed the speech by the prime minister and proceeds to deliver the speech while all remain standing. Afterwards, the monarch and members take their seats and the Report on the State of the Realm, an account of the government achievement of the past year, is read (traditionally inNynorsk),[35] customarily by the youngest member of the government present.[36][37]
The members and monarch rise and the monarch is presented with the report by the prime minister and the monarch returns the speech and report to the president. The president gives some remarks and closes with "May God preserve our King and country", joined by other members of the Storting and the first verse of thenational anthem is then sung. After the monarch and his retinue have left, the meeting is adjourned and the speech and report are first debated at the subsequent sitting.[36]
In Spain, speeches from the throne used to be practiced before the declaration of theSecond Spanish Republic in 1931. With the restoration of the Spanish monarchy in 1975, the monarch still opens parliament but no longer gives a "speech from the throne". The monarch gives a speech but it does not focus on or direct government policy.
In Sweden, the practice of having a speech from the throne given by the monarch was held until 1974, coinciding with the rewrite of theconstitution of Sweden which removed formal involvement of the monarch in the legislative process. The old opening of the legislature was called "The Solemn Opening of theRiksdag" (Swedish:Riksdagens högtidliga öppnande) and was full of symbolism. The speech was given before the Riksdag in theHall of State at theRoyal Palace. The King would be seated on theSilver Throne as he gave his speech.
Prior to 1907, the monarch and the princes of the royal blood would also wear their royal and princely robes and theircrowns and coronets. AfterOscar II's death, his successor,Gustav V was not crowned, and thus did not wear the crown when opening the Riksdag. Instead, the crown and sceptre would be placed on cushions beside the throne and the robe would be draped on the throne.
After the abolition of the opening ceremony at the palace, last held in 1974 and only once during the reign ofCarl XVI Gustaf, the opening is now held at theRiksdag chamber in the presence of themonarch and his family. It is still the monarch whoofficially opens the annual session but he no longer gives a "speech from the throne"; the monarch is invited by theSpeaker and delivers an introductory speech and then declares the session open. After the speech, thePrime Minister delivers a statement of the upcominggovernment agenda (Swedish:Regeringsförklaring) for the forthcoming legislative year is made.[38]
InThailand, themonarch makes a speech at a joint session in theAnanta Samakhom Throne Hall, advising theNational Assembly in their work.
Manyrepublics also hold a yearly event in which thepresident gives a speech to a joint session of the legislature, such as theState of the Union address given by thepresident of the United States and in most U.S. states, where the governor gives a similarState of the State address. Similarly, thepresident of the Philippines gives theState of the Nation Address. In Hispanophone American countries, this practice is known asmensaje a la nación (message to the nation). Often such are on or near the first day of the legislature's new session. However, in theory, rather than just outline the priorities for the coming year, the head of state is supposed to provide a report to the legislature on what the country's condition is, hence the termState of the Nation.
The European Union has an equivalent practice known as theState of the Union, in which thePresident of the European Commission addresses a plenary session of theEuropean Parliament every September. It is regulated by the 2010 Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission.[39]
| Components |
|  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary officers |
| ||||
| Members |
| ||||
| Parliaments | |||||
| Procedure | |||||
| Elections | |||||
| Locations | |||||
| Related | |||||
| Components |
|   | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary officers |
| ||||
| Members |
| ||||
| Procedure | |||||
| Elections | |||||
| Locations |
| ||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||