The upcoming King’s Speech is set to be a significant event, marking King Charles III's second address to Parliament since ascending the throne. This ceremonial occasion, steeped in tradition, outlines the government’s agenda for the coming year.

The King's Speech, also known as the State Opening of Parliament, is a centuries-old tradition that symbolises the constitutional role of the sovereign in opening Parliament and outlining the government’s plans. It is written by the ruling government and delivered by the monarch.

What to Expect at this Years Speech

This year’s speech is expected to focus on several critical areas, reflecting the current political and social climate:

- Smoking ban on next generation

- Mental Health Act reform

- VAT on private schools

- Renationalising rail

- Renters reform

- Workers' rights, ban on zero hours, minimum wage same for all adults, and ban on fire and rehire

- Crime bill with new curbs on sale of knives/swords and new offences of child exploitation in order to tackle gangs

- Full conversion therapy ban

- Planning reforms, allowing building on some land currently designated as green belt, which the government says has been wrongly classified

- Shoplifting clampdown and close loophole making thefts under £200 less likely to be prosecuted

- Independent regulator of football in England

- Truancy law: Councils must track "ghost children" missing from school rolls post-Covid; parents must disclose homeschooling, with AI enhancing coordination among schools, GPs, councils, and Ofsted

- Publicly owned GB Energy

- Reform Apprenticeships Levy

- House of Lords reform to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords and force any member who reaches 80 years of age at the end of the Parliament to retire

- Devolution: table a "take back control" bill to fire up regions by handing further powers to local leaders

- Sex offences: new criminal offence for spiking with rape and sexual offences teams required in every police force

- Deliver Martyn's Law named after Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, a legal requirement for venues and event organisers to put terrorism preparation plans in place

- Hillsborough Law to provide legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related deaths

- Small boats legislation to treat smugglers like terrorists