After delivering a few light-hearted remarks, Starmer takes on a sterner tone: "What we have before us is a plan for more of the same. More sticking plasters, more divisions, more 'party first, country second' gimmicks."

"Today we reached something of a new low, because they're not even pretending to govern any more. They've given up on any sense of purpose. They see our country's problems as something to be exploited, not solved," Starmer says.

"And by doing this they underestimate the British people [who] want them to get on with the job," he adds.

Image source, UK Parliament

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer steps up to the despatch box, after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle opens by setting out some ground rules for MPs.

Starmer pays tribute to the King on his first address saying "it is a new chapter for him and our country".

He congratulates Scarborough MP Sir Robert Goodwill and Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie for their "powerful" speeches.

We've been hearing from two backbench MPs - Robert Goodwill and Siobhan Baillie, both Conservatives.

They've been delivering what's called the "loyal address to the King" - basically thanking the monarch for coming to deliver the speech.

Both Goodwill and Baillie began by paying tribute to the Queen's legacy - and then moved on to other areas of the speech, including cracking a few jokes.

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

The debate is long and drawn-out and will span several days before MPs vote on it - although it's expected to pass because the government has a large majority.

After introductory speeches by two backbenchers, we'll hear from Labour leader Keir Starmer and PM Rishi Sunak.

We'll bring you all the key updates - and you watch along live by pressing the Play button at the top of the page.

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

Alongside a phased ban on smoking for those born from 2009 onwards, the government is also planning a crackdown on vaping.

A consultation is currently being carried out looking at whether to restrict the sale of flavoured vapes as well as displays in shops.

Vaping is a much more complex issue than smoking outright. E-cigarettes have been proved to be an important tool to get people to quit smoking.

They carry a fraction of the risk of smoking – although they not considered entirely risk free and the long-term effects of vaping are not yet known.

Image source, PA Media

There has been particular concern about children taking up vaping, which is why the government is focused on what it sees as the targeting of young people with fruit and sweet flavoured vapes.

Are plans to force offenders into the courtroom realistic?published at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2023

14:13 GMT 7 November 2023

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

Image source, Cheshire Police

One of the promised criminal justice measures in the King's Speech would allow judges to force offenders into court to be sentenced if they have refused to leave their cell - last seen in the case of serial killer nurse Lucy Letby.

It is not as easy to solve as it sounds.

Firstly, there are occasions when defendants try to use their trial and sentencing as a platform or even to mock their victims. I have seen this before and it's pretty sickening.

Secondly, some defendants who refuse to comply are exceptionally dangerous. Lorraine Barwell, a custody officer, was killed in 2015 by a prisoner she was escorting on the day of his sentencing.

Judges already have an inherent powers to order attendance in court - but ministers hope that the added threat of an extra two years in jail for those who refuse to come into court will help deliver justice.

But if someone is already facing a whole life order - like Lucy Letby - the threat of extra time would be irrelevant.

Tom Edwards
Transport correspondent, BBC London

Image source, Westminster City Council

During the speech, the King said the government would "deal with the scourge of unlicensed pedicabs in London".

For many tourists, it can be a fun way to get around the capital, but there have been stories of some people getting charged horrendous amounts of money for very short journeys.

So, a clampdown on pedicabs or rickshaws in London will be seen as long overdue by some.

Councils and legitimate operators have been battling for years to get the industry regulated. Black cab drivers even took pedicab operators to court to try to get them banned – but didn't succeed.

The law covering pedicabs dates back to 1869 - at the moment, they're classed as stage carriages. Now the loophole in the law will be closed.

Read more about the plans here.

Image source, Reuters

Missed it all? No problem - let's look at the key points from the King's Speech, in which he set out the government's plans for the next Parliament:

• A new Sentencing Bill will require whole-life sentences for the worst murders
• A Criminal Justice Bill will force criminals to appear in the dock for their sentencing hearings
• An Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill will give law enforcement agencies more access to certain personal data and make tech companies clear security features with the Home Office

• UK venues will have to draw up anti-terror plans under Martyn's law

• A Leasehold and Freehold Bill will ban leaseholds for new houses, but not new flats, in England and Wales. It will also increase the standard lease extension period to 990 years
• Licences for oil and gas projects in the North Sea to be awarded annually, under the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill
• Pledges to strengthen consumer rights online and tackle fake reviews are in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
• A Tobacco and Vapes Bill will deliver plans for a phased ban on smoking, and introduce restrictions on the packaging and marketing of vapes
• The Football Governance Bill will establish a regulator for the top five tiers of English professional football
• Public bodies will be banned from boycotting Israel under the Economic Activities of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Read more in the full list here.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

We’ve just heard King Charles deliver his first King’s Speech as monarch.

The picture below is a reminder of how long King Charles has been part of national life - photographed in 1950 watching the state opening procession of his grandfather, George VI.

Image source, PA Media

More than 70 years later, now wearing the crown, what does the King think about taking his own place at such an historic and elaborate ceremony?

And how might he feel about reading out other people’s words and speaking on the advice of ministers?

He spent decades as the Prince of Wales being much more independent and opinionated on issues he cares about, the environment in particular.

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey has slammed the King's Speech as a mix of "cheap gimmicks and reheated policies".

Sir Ed, who will respond to the speech in the House of Commons later during the two-hour debate, said the King provided "empty words" instead of substantial answers for "patients left waiting months in pain for treatment, homeowners seeing their mortgages sky-rocket or communities seeing their local rivers ruined by sewage".

“It shows the Conservative government is out of touch, out of ideas and deserves to be kicked out of office,” he said.

Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

The key takeaway that the government wanted us to report from the PR previews was that criminal justice would be at the heart of the King's Speech.

But the actual measures announced by the King are not newly-minted: they're a raft of policy proposals that have been long promised.

Some of the plans being promoted, such as new rights for victims of crime and restrictions on marriage for whole life killers, are in fact already in legislation before Parliament.

That said, there are three key questions:

• Realistically, will any of the policies actually make it through to law before this Parliament runs out of time?
• And even if they do, will they have any positive public impact for the PM?
• And what do any of these measures do to help end the unprecedented backlogs in dealing with suspects in the courts?

Image source, PA Media

Yes.

In about two hours, MPs will reassemble in the House of Commons to begin debating its contents.

After introductory speeches by two MPs, the prime minister give more details on the speech to the Commons, setting out his government’s agenda.

The leader of the opposition, Labour leader Keir Starmer, then gets the chance to respond, before other MPs contribute.

Lauren Moss and Josh Parry
LGBT & Identity Correspondents

One bill that hasn’t featured in today's King’s Speech is the Conversion Therapy Bill.

The proposed ban would criminalise attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, whether through prayer or other forms of therapy. The government first promised to ban conversion therapy in 2018 and has re-affirmed its commitment a number of times, including in the Queen’s Speech last May.

Major medical institutions including the NHS and the Royal College of Psychiatrists agree conversion therapy doesn’t work and can cause harm to those who undergo it.

A number of MPs and some organisations have raised concerns a ban could criminalise teachers, parents and even therapists from having conversations with children about their gender identity or restrict religious freedoms.

Given the controversy, its lack of inclusion will come as a shock to many campaigners, but not necessarily a surprise.

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

It's worth noting the speech written for the King used the phrase “long-term” eight times - a clear echo of the “long-term decisions for a brighter future” slogan the Conservatives used at their party conference last month.

The government is determined to draw a dividing line with Labour on crime — something Labour scoff at, pointing to the government’s record on prisons and courts over the past 13 years.

And they clearly believe there is political mileage in drawing attention to Labour’s plan to stop issuing licences for oil and gas exploration.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, PA Media

As the King and Queen Consort make their way back to Buckingham Palace, not everyone is keen on this royal ceremony at the opening of Parliament.

Anti-monarchists gathered earlier in Westminster to voice their disapproval with Not My King banners, in what is now a familiar part of royal events.

The Republic campaign group criticised the royal involvement as a “pantomime that celebrates the worst, least democratic aspects of our political system”.

The speech has just finished - and we'll be chewing over what's in it - but in the meantime, here are some of the best photos from the ceremony itself:

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

We hear fanfare playing as the King and Camilla get back in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to leave Parliament.

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

In the last few moments, Charles III delivered his first King's Speech to Parliament, marking the start of the new session of Parliament.

He began his speech by paying tribute to his "darling mother", the late Queen.

Watch the start of Charles's first King's Speech as monarch here:

MPs are heading back to the Commons, where they will debate the contents of the King's Speech.