Sunak next congratulates Starmer on his "decisive" victory, and makes a self-deprecating joke about being an elder statesman at the age 44.

He says Labour has "successfully tapped into the country's desire for change" but that the party must now deliver it.

He adds that the Conservatives will be there to hold the government to account - disagreeing not for its own sake, but where necessary.

Sunak also welcomes the introduction of anti-terror Martyn's Law, and plans for a smoke-free future, which he says he will support.

Image source, House of Commons

Speaking now is Rishi Sunak, leader of the opposition.

He starts by paying tribute to King Charles III following his medical difficulties and describes him as a "true model of public service". Sunak also wishes Queen Camilla a happy birthday.

In his opening remarks, Sunak welcomes the new MPs to Parliament, and praises Peter Dowd and Florence Eshalomi following their opening addresses.

Sunak also says the House of Commons will "deplore" the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

First we're hearing from two backbench Labour MPs - Florence Eshalomi and Peter Dowd.

They've been delivering what's called the "humble address to the King" - thanking the monarch for coming to deliver the speech, and talking about their constituencies.

Following tradition, Dowd and Eshalomi deliver light-hearted remarks peppered with jokes, but also touch on issues of importance to them.

Image source, Getty Images

Our headline today focuses on railways and houses - but there was plenty more in the King's Speech, and in the accompanying 39 bills put forward by the government today...

• Plans for a gradual phase-out of smoking will mean anyone who turns 15 or younger in 2024 will never be able to buy tobacco. There will also be changes on how vapes are marketed
• There's been much focus on banning no-fault evictions - but the government also says landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to keep a pet (although they will be able to require insurance to cover potential damage)
• The government will require free breakfast clubs in every primary school, and will limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kits a school can require

• There's been a lot of attention on plans to bring train operators into public ownership, but a bill will also make it easier for local authorities to franchise local bus services – in short, to control them

And one thing that wasn't there...

• There was no specific mention of votes at 16 – only a commitment to "encourage wide participation in the democratic process". Labour's Lucy Powell has since said she "hopes" 16-year-olds will be able to vote at the next election

It's now time for MPs in the Commons to debate the contents of the King's Speech.

We'll hear from Rishi Sunak, in his new role as leader of the opposition, responding to the plans set out in the speech.

And PM Keir Starmer will give MPs more details about the government’s agenda for the new Parliament.

Other MPs and party leaders will also have a chance to share their views and this whole process could go on for days before MPs actually vote on it.

We'll be bringing you the key lines here - tap the watch live button at the top of the page to follow along.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

One of the most awkward moments in the King’s Speech pomp is when the prime minister and leader of the opposition have to make small talk on the walk to the Lords.

Imagine being Rishi Sunak – thumped in the election and now having to smile and chat to the main who beat you to Number Ten.

That’s what happened today.

But both men looked relaxed and had a long chat. That continued in the Commons chamber after they got back; where they were joined by former deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden and his successor Angela Rayner.

It’s a reminder that despite all the fury of a campaign, some politicians do get along some of the time.

Keir Starmer is said by aides to have more time for Rishi Sunak than he had for Boris Johnson. Starmer and Johnson had a particularly fractious relationship.

Emily Atkinson
Live page editor

Over the past few hours, our correspondents have been analysing all the key bills outlined in the King's Speech earlier today.

Now, we're just minutes away from the start of the Commons debate on the government's plans for the year ahead.

Today, the set up of the Commons will look different to what we're used to.

Flanked by their MPs, PM Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Rishi Sunak will speak from the opposite benches to those we've grown accustomed to seeing them on for years.

Zoe Conway
Employment correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The proposed Employment Rights Bill certainly looks radical. It promises workers’ protection from unfair dismissal and the right to flexible working from day one. It also says that all adults should benefit from the minimum wage.

But there are caveats.

Employers will still be able to offer a probationary period for new employees and it’s not clear whether these new rights will apply during that period. Employers are being asked to offer flexible working but only "as far as is reasonable".

The government says exploitative zero-hour contracts will be banned - but the government is not saying that they can never be used by employers.

Also, when it comes to the minimum wage, the government says it will "remove the discriminatory age bands, external to ensure every adult worker benefits". But what does the government mean by adult? Does it mean that anyone over the age of 18 will be entitled to the full £11.44 rate?

With a firm commitment to get more people working it will be conscious of not doing anything that makes business reluctant to take on new hires.

Justin Rowlatt
Climate editor

...that’s certainly what the government claims. It says the £8.3bn of public money it will invest in the new publicly-owned energy company will help cut the average household bill by £300 a year.

The estimate is from a report by a think-tank called Ember published last year. The savings come from weaning the UK off its reliance on gas power plants and on to cheaper homegrown renewables.

But electricity prices have fallen significantly since the report was published, reducing any savings.

And there are questions about the assumption that renewables are always cheaper than fossil fuels.

Most renewable projects rely on borrowed money and interest rates are high now, increasing costs.

Costs are also likely to rise because the government wants so many projects to be built at the same time - meaning more competition for the specialist supplies and skilled labour these projects require.

And there is another factor to consider. Solar plants and onshore wind turbines are often very unpopular locally which can delay projects - again raising costs.

How will 'counter-terror style' plans to stop people smugglers work?published at 13:54 British Summer Time 17 July

13:54 BST 17 July

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

We knew from the general election campaign that the government will create a new police-style Border Security Command.

Sceptics have dismissed this as re-arranging the furniture - but the King’s Speech puts flesh on the bones of the new body’s promised counter-terrorism style powers.

Most terrorism-related prosecutions these days are not for actual bomb plots, but for the acts that terrorism suspects perform in the lead-up to an atrocity: fund-raising, planning and buying items or other preparations.

The government says this legal principle of “preparatory offences” can be applied to people smuggling.

So, after the bill becomes law, criminal gang members could be prosecuted for simply communicating or promoting the service of passage over the English Channel. Supplying materials - perhaps boat engines.

In theory, all of this means smugglers could be hauled to court for their intentions alone.

These types of investigations into preparatory offences have had a really positive impact on the fight against terrorism - but they took time to bed in.

So I suspect there will be no quick fix in relation to people smuggling - but the potential for an impact over the long-term is there to see.

Zoe Kleinman
Technology editor

This is the first time in recent history that I’ve actually been underwhelmed by the amount of mentions of artificial intelligence at an event.

The artificial intelligence sector continues to boom, dominating the tech landscape and investment decisions. Under former PM Rishi Sunak, himself a tech enthusiast, it was a government priority.

Industry insiders had been broadly anticipating the introduction of an AI bill today - but there was nothing that specific.

Under the previous government, the plan was to fold AI regulation into the remits of existing regulators. So, for example, if you think you have been discriminated against by an AI tool, you would go to the Equalities Commission.

But critics say the powerful AI sector needs its own bespoke body to oversee it.

AI was simply not under the spotlight today.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

There was no specific mention of votes at 16 in the King’s Speech - only a nod to "encourage wide participation in the democratic process".

The government's Leader of the Commons, Lucy Powell, was just talking to us on BBC Radio 5 Live.

She says Labour is still committed to lowering the voting age. So will 16-year-olds vote at the next election?

I hope so, she said.

Francesca Gillett
Live reporter

Well that was a busy few hours.

As you can see, our correspondents have been looking at what was included - and what wasn't - in the King's Speech.

As well as the speech itself, the government also released about 90 pages of detail on the bills the King outlined, which our correspondents are still digging into.

And in just over an hour, MPs will debate the contents of what they just heard - their first debate of the new Parliament.

Stay with us.

Smoking ban and vaping restrictions are backpublished at 13:18 British Summer Time 17 July

13:18 BST 17 July

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

Image source, EPA

There are two major pieces of legislation being promised that relate to health – one that the previous prime minister was pushing, and one that critics said he was side-stepping.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will reintroduce plans set out and personally pushed by Rishi Sunak.

The legislation will mean anyone who turns 15 or younger in 2024 will never legally be sold tobacco products.

On vaping, it will give ministers the power to restrict the flavours, packaging and product presentation of vaping products.

In contrast, the legislation on mental health will lead to a wide-ranging reform of the 1983 Mental Health Act – something many argue is long-overdue.

In 2018 a government-commissioned review warned the law covering the sectioning of people with severe mental health was being misused and did not properly protect their rights.

It recommended a raft of changes, including new rights to challenge treatment and legally-binding advanced care plans, which this paves the way for.

Sense of deja vu with these crime and justice planspublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 17 July

13:14 BST 17 July

Mark Easton
Home editor

Image source, Getty Images

Echoing Labour’s "street crime action plan" of 2004, the new government promises to get bobbies back on the beat.

New "respect orders" to tackle anti-social behaviour will also sound familiar to those who remember Tony Blair’s "respect agenda’" of 2005.

And just as Labour did in 2002, the government is promising a justice system that "puts victims first".

Offenders will be required to attend their sentencing hearings - a proposal pursued by the family of Zara Aleena who was murdered in 2022.

But while Tony Blair famously promised to get "tough on crime and the causes of crime", today’s King's Speech offers little on plans to deal with the roots of criminal or anti-social behaviour.

Instead, the agenda is focused on popular measures designed to give more power to law enforcement.

It's been a busy day of policy, but also of pomp. Scroll down for golden carriages and ruffles...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

Coming it at 1,421 words long, this was the longest monarch's speech at a State Opening of Parliament in over 20 years, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

By word count, it's the seventh longest since World War Two.

It took the King 12 minutes and 44 seconds to deliver, compared to 11 and a half minutes last time around.

And it was also one of the most legislation-heavy in recent years, with almost 40 bills announced on behalf of the government.

By contrast, the last monarch's speech under a Labour government - in November 2009 - saw just 13 new bills announced. That was just 735 words long and took Queen Elizabeth II six and a half minutes to read.

Zoe Kleinman
Technology editor

Just 10 days ago, Labour firmly ruled out the possibility of a digital ID card scheme. Both Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were firm - it was not on the agenda.

And now yet now here it is in all but name, as part of the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill.

The concept of a digital ID card was championed by former Labour PM Sir Tony Blair, and in 2010 his government got as far as actually issuing 15,000 cards – but the following year the scheme was scrapped under the coalition.

Supporters of digital ID make many claims, ranging from making the process of buying a house more straightforward to offering an easier way to manage immigration. But privacy campaigners say it amounts to an unnecessary collection of personal data by the state.

There are many details to be figured out. Where will this huge database be stored and how will it be protected? Will it be internationally recognised, and might it replace any traditional forms of ID?

And will people be required to pay for it?

Sara Girvin
Ireland correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Labour's manifesto pledges on Northern Ireland have now become legislative plans.

The government repeated its pledge to repeal the controversial Legacy Act which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to incidents during the Troubles. Thirty years of violence saw more than 3,500 people killed.

The government has previously said it plans to consult with Stormont parties, the Irish government and communities in Northern Ireland on a way forward on dealing with the past.

We also heard about the establishment of a new Council of the Nations and Regions - and King Charles said his government would "continue to support" the devolved government of Northern Ireland.

Scottish National Party (SNP) Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says the King's Speech failed to deliver the change people in Scotland were promised - calling it a "missed opportunity".

"Keir Starmer has failed his first test in government," he says.

"People in Scotland voted for clear and substantial change at Westminster, and the Labour government was handed a huge mandate to deliver it, so it's bitterly disappointing that they have thrown that opportunity away."

He adds there is "no plan" to deliver the maximum devolution for Scotland that he says Labour promised.

Image source, PA Media