A birds-eye view of the State Crown arriving by carriage at the Palace of Westminster.

Image source, PA

Bright and early this morning, the Yeoman Warders did their ceremonial search of the Westminster cellars - a tradition dating back to the 1605 plot to blow up Parliament. 

The police then carried out a more thorough security sweep.

Here's what we can expect over the next few hours (all times BST):  

* Royal Procession – The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession, making its way through the streets to the Houses of Parliament.

* 11:15 - The Queen arrives at the Sovereign's Entrance

* 11:30 - The Queen takes the throne in the House of Lords before reading the speech from the throne in the House of Lords.

* 14:30 - Motion for Humble Address. The Commons thank the Queen for the speech and both Houses begin debating the government's legislative programme

Around about now, a Government whip will arrive at Buckingham Palace to be "kidnapped" by the Palace - he is being "held hostage" to ensure the Queen's safe return. 

This harks back to a time when the monarch and Parliament were on less cordial terms. Today the role of the "hostage" falls to Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins.

The prime minister makes his way to a waiting car before being driven to Parliament.

David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street for the short journey to Parliament ahead of Queen's Speech.

Prime Minister David Cameron says his programme for the year ahead means that "wherever you live you can have the chance of a good education, a decent job, a home of your own and the peace of mind that comes from being able to raise a family and enjoy a secure retirement".

But Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman says the Conservatives want to "set the nations of the country against each other" and threaten "basic rights at work".

And Nick Clegg, responding for the Lib Dems, will criticise moves to replace the Human Rights Act, saying it is "dispiriting - if pretty unsurprising" that the Conservative government is "turning its back" on the liberal stance championed by his party in the coalition.

This is the 62nd speech that the Queen has delivered in person but the 64th of her reign - she did not attend Parliament in 1959 or 1963 as she was pregnant. 

Her shortest speech came in 2009 and was 737 words long. The longest, in 1999, had 1,763 words. 

The average length of her speech - so far - has been nine minutes and 50 seconds.  

The Spectator

Image source, Reuters

Former Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will respond to the Queen's Speech on behalf of the party this afternoon.

The Spectator's Isabel Hardman asks whether there could be "a sadder sight" than watching his "lonely intervention" on behalf of his "tiny" party? But she cautions that the Conservatives "shouldn't laugh too much" at him.

Image source, EPA

A bill paving the way for an in/out referendum on Britain's EU membership is expected in today's Queen's Speech. The BBC understands voters will be asked to choose Yes if they want to remain in the union or No to leave.

BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the precise wording of the question had not yet been confirmed. But it is expected to allow those who want Britain to remain in the EU to style themselves as the Yes campaign, with the question expected to be along the lines of: "Should the UK remain a member of the EU?"

More here.

It is "the ultimate show of pomp, ceremony - and men in tights", says the BBC's Ellie Price, who describes the speech as "a shopping list of things to come". Watch her guide to the day's events here.