Nearly 1,200 soldiers, sailors and airmen – plus almost 200 horses – filled the streets of London as the Armed Forces played a major part in one of the most spectacular events in the British calendar.
The State Opening of Parliament is a tradition that stretches back over 500 years. It marks the start of a new parliamentary year and brings together the three parts of Parliament: the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. At the heart of it all was the King's Speech – delivered by His Majesty The King from the Throne in the House of Lords – which set out the government's plans for the year ahead.
A procession fit for a King
The day began with the Crown Procession leaving Buckingham Palace shortly after 10.30am. The King's Procession followed at 11am, travelling down The Mall, through Horse Guards and along Whitehall to Parliament. Lining the entire route were soldiers, RAF personnel and Royal Navy sailors standing to attention as the procession passed.
His Majesty was escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment – troopers in gleaming silver helmets and armour, riding jet-black horses groomed to a mirror shine. They were commanded by Major Charlie Onslow, who has served in 12 countries and previously commanded the Escort at last year's King's Birthday Parade.
Guards of Honour at the Palace and Parliament
At Buckingham Palace, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards formed a Guard of Honour commanded by Major Ben Tracey – a Grenadier Guards officer who has served in Iraq, worked as Equerry to the late Duke of Edinburgh, and recently led his company on deployments to Brunei, Kenya and Cyprus.
You could spot the Grenadier Guards by the single buttons on their tunics – a mark of their status as the most senior of the Foot Guards regiments. They also wore a white plume on the left side of their famous bearskin caps.
A second Guard of Honour was in place at the House of Lords when The King arrived.
Gun salutes signal the moment
As The King entered the House of Lords, a 41-gun salute rang out from Green Park, fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. When he departed at around noon, another 41-gun salute was fired from the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company – the oldest regiment in the British Army.
Music filled the streets
Military bands were posted at key points along the route, from the Band of the Grenadier Guards at Buckingham Palace to the Band of the Royal Marines at Parliament Square. Their music has been part of this tradition for generations, and it remains one of the most stirring sounds in British public life.
More than ceremony
While the uniforms and pageantry were what the public saw, many of the personnel on parade have also been delivering real operational work – training Ukrainian forces in the UK, taking part in exercises across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and beyond, and supporting allied nations from Estonia to the Caribbean.
The State Opening also marked the start of a busy summer ceremonial season. Many of the same units will appear at Trooping the Colour in June, and the Household Division Bands will perform a Military Musical Spectacular on Horse Guards in July.
For the men and women who took part, it was a moment of genuine pride – a reminder that the Armed Forces sit at the heart of Britain's history, democracy and national life.
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