The state trumpeters have performed their fanfare, signalling to everyone the Queen is ready to emerge from the robing room and begin the procession.

The Queen, accompanied by her son Prince Charles, make their way through the Royal Gallery, led by Black Rod and the crown.

In addition to her decision to not wear the crown, the Queen is wearing day clothes instead of the Robe of State.

She was dressed down in this way for the State Openings of March 1974 and June 2017.

On the most recent two occasions, snap general elections meant there was less time to prepare for the ceremony - so it was decided that the event would be made relatively less formal.

Image source, Getty Images

The Queen has arrived at the Palace of Westminster ahead of her speech, expected at around 11.30 GMT.

There are a few ways this State Opening is a dressed-down version of previous ones.

One is that the Queen is not wearing the jewel-encrusted Imperial State Crown - it's being carried on a cushion instead.

And the reason is a simple one - it's too heavy.

The crown, which was commissioned for the 1937 coronation of the Queen's father, George VI, boasts nearly 3,000 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and about 270 pearls - in addition to the large diamond, ruby and sapphire that adorn the back and front.

It weighs just over a kilogram., external

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

The government has put the NHS front and centre of the Queen's speech.

That is understandable.

Behind-the-scenes ministers and advisers are saying that to keep hold of the voters that backed them at last week's general election there has to be an improvement in NHS performance in England.

Health is devolved so Parliament in Westminster does not control policy elsewhere in the UK.

Waiting times for both A&E and hospital operations, such as knee and hip replacements, have both sunk to record worst levels since the respective targets were introduced.

Read more here.

The Queen and Prince Charles have left Buckingham Palace in Her Majesty's Bentley.

Usually they would take a horse-drawn carriage, but it's a reduced procession today as was the case in the 2017 snap election.

The Queen's Imperial State Crown has now arrived at the Royal Gallery, as well as the two other bits of royal regalia - the Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance.

The state trumpeters will also herald when the Queen and Prince Charles emerge from the robing room.

Norman Fowler, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, posts a picture with his friend and the new Father of the House of Commons, Sir Peter Bottomley.

The Lord Speaker oversees proceedings in the Lords and plays a key role in administration there, too.

The Father of the House is a title for the MP with the longest unbroken service in the Commons.

Sir Peter Bottomley holds the title - he was first elected to the House in 1975.

As long as the Father of the House is not a government minister, he takes the chair when the Commons elects a Speaker. He has no other formal duties.

The Yeomen of the Guard - the oldest military corps in existence - have finished their ceremonial search of the cellars ahead of the Queen's Speech, which dates back to Guy Fawkes.

They made their their way through the Royal Gallery in Parliament to provide a guard of honour for the Queen when she arrives for the procession.

The captain of the Yeomen is a political office, held by the Lord's deputy chief whip.

Also present are the Gentlemen at Arms - the ones with white plumes - who are the Queen's body guards.

There's not long to go now and members of the House of Lords are taking their seats.

Those spotted securing their place include Lady Hale - who is retiring as a Supreme Court judge - and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the outgoing Archbishop of York John Sentamu.

The bishop benches are full but there a fair few free seats elsewhere.

BBC News Channel

Labour MP Rachael Maskell is asked what response Labour will offer following the Queen's Speech - written by the government - today.

"We have 203 MPs who are ready to hold the government to account," she says.

"It's one thing having a soundbite but drilling into the detail is the job of Parliament," she says, adding that they will be scrutinising the delivery of the programme that the Tories set out.

BBC News Channel

Conservative MP and government business minister Nadhim Zahawi says that he has known Boris Johnson for 25 years, adding the PM has a "remarkable memory" which will help with delivering on his promises.

"He will have a laser-like focus, he has an incredible memory for detail," says Mr Zahawi.

"Every time I see him, as one of his ministers, the smallest thing I've reported to him three months ago, he'd say 'what's happened on that?'

"He'll have a laser-like focus on delivery, delivery delivery."

BBC News Channel

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says Boris Johnson has "been able to arrive in what was his dream scenario" - arriving back in Parliament with a huge majority, which gives him "tremendous power".

Beyond Brexit, the government wants to make the NHS his priority, says our correspondent.

"There's a big debate over whether or not his plans and the amount of money he wants to put in the heals service really will be transformational or not," she says.

"In terms of changing the political map I think the government today is going to try to give the impression that as Conservatives they want to put public services first. Of course that doesn't go along with the normal tradition that we would expect."

She says there are going to be about 40 bills announced during today's Queen's Speech, depending on how you count them.

"But above all else, the priority of this government immediately is to get the Brexit legislation through."

It's little over two months since the last Queen's Speech, and the media are back in their gazebos on College Green in Westminster.

"I may as well move in," jokes one BBC reporter.

Peers are gathering in the House of Lords chamber, ahead of the Queen's Speech in around an hour.

And, in one of the odder traditions, the Yeoman of the Guard - the oldest British military corps in existence - have carried out their ceremonial search of the cellars ahead of the Queen's Speech.

It dates back to Guy Fawkes being caught red-handed in 1605 as he attempted to blow up Parliament.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA

Image source, PA Media