Diamond Jubilee: Queen Visits Parliament For Westminster Hall Speech

Diamond Jubilee: Queen Visits Parliament For Westminster Hall Speech
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The Queen will give a speech to both Houses of Parliament today as MPs and peers honour the monarch with the presentation of a Diamond Jubilee Window.

The historic address was also made when the sovereign celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Silver Jubilee 25 years earlier in 1977.

The Queen's visit to Westminster Hall will begin with Lord Speaker, Baroness D'Souza, presenting the address from the House of Lords and House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, making a similar speech from the Commons.

The event is part of the traditional dialogue between the monarch and Parliament where Houses, either individually or together, present "a humble address" and the Sovereign replies.

The ceremony has special significance as each House will assemble as a whole to present its address.

After the speeches have been read, the Diamond Jubilee Window - a gift from the members of both Houses - will be unveiled to mark the monarch's 60-year reign and the Queen will reply to the addresses.

The window will be in a display case and will be installed above the North Door of Westminster Hall later this year.

In her 2002 address, the Queen spoke about "50 unforgettable years" on the throne, telling MPs and peers: "I would like above all to declare my resolve to continue, with the support of my family, to serve the people of this great nation of ours to the best of my ability through the changing times ahead."

The monarch's speech to both houses to mark her 1977 silver jubilee reflected on the historic events of the first 25 years of her reign, which had seen the final break-up of the British Empire.

She said: "No longer an imperial power, we have been coming to terms with what this means for ourselves and for our relations with the rest of the world."