State Opening of Parliament

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Bretonian Broadcasting Corporation

I'm John Parker and I'm here reporting from the centre of New Westminster, Planet New London, where crowds have gathered today for one of the biggest events of the Bretonian political calendar. Her Majesty, Queen Carina, arrived at New Westminster Palace a short while ago, for the ceremonial state opening of Parliament for the new year. And, as Her Beloved Majesty's 50th birthday year, there has been extra pomp and circumstance here this afternoon to the jubilation of the Bretonian public.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. local time, the soldiers of the Royal Guard Regiment began their parade down the Royal Mile, lining the route to Parliament. Large cheering crowds filled the entire centre of New Westminster in a display of patriotism at a time when the Monarch is seen as a unifying symbol of stability in the face of looming threats to the Bretonian way of life. Queen Carina herself, as usual, travelled in her Gold Corronation Carriage, which followed the procession of Guardsmen.

Meanwhile, in another carriage, the Gold Crown of Settlement was carried from the Royal Treasury in the Tower of London to Parliament, escorted by (left to right) Admiral Benjamin Whittlington of the New London Planetary Fleet, His Royal Highness Prince Michael, Duke of York, and Field Marshal Andrew Perch, Army Commander in Chief New London.

As the various processions arrived, the Royal Standard was raised in the Great Hall of Parliament to signify the presence of the Monarch. The Crown of Settlement, meanwhile, was unloaded and presented to the Lord Great Chamberlain, to be transferred to the Queen before her ceremonial entry into the House of Lords.

Carina herself arrived shortly afterwards to be greeted in traditional fashion by the Yeomen of the Tower Guard, assembled inside the door of the Great Hall, and the officers of the Household Cavalry, who lined the stairs up the Star Chamber, in which she would be formally presented with the Crown in front of the Three Bishops of the Royal Church of Bretonia.

Queen Carina then entered the Long Gallery before various dignitaries, dressed splendidly in the Robes of State and with the Crown of Settlement bourne majestically upon her head. She proceed into the House of Lords, escorted by the Royal Heralds of the Order of the Bretonian Empire and the Knights Commander of the Imperial Order of the Legion of Tau.

As the next stage of the ceremony, after requesting the Lords to be seated, The Queen sent Black Rod across the Great Hall to the House of Commons, to summon them to the House of Lords to listen to the Queen's Speech. However, as the MPs of the commons travelled back across the lobby, the doors of the House of Lords were ceremonially slammed shut in the face of the Seargent at Arms, to traditionally signify the supremecy of the Lords over the Commons and their right to bar non-peers of the Realm from entering the House of Lords. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod then had to step forwards and knock on the door, demanding it be opened in his authority as representative of the Monarch, before the door was opened again and the MPs admitted into the Lords ahead of the entry of the Sovereign.

Once all the peers of the Realm and Members of Parliament were assembled before her, Queen Carina began her speech, outlining the policy plans of Her Royalist Government under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Lord George Mountbatten, for the coming parliamentary term.

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, my Government's overriding priority is to ensure the continued welfare of the Bretonian people, and the stability of our economy in the face of the continued ravages of war.

My Government will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Defense and the Admiralty Board in managing the conduct of the Tau War, with the hope of bringing that conflict to a quick and satisfactory conclusion.

Legislation will be introduced concerning Martial Law and Conscription on Planet Leeds, and the transformation of the Planet to military purposes in order to increase our defenses.

My Government will continue to support all of it's citizens who have been displaced due to the Tau War, and will expand the refugee camps on New London and Cambridge as needed to accommodate the needs of our people.

Members of the House of Commons, estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

My Government will introduce legislation to open previously closed planets, such as Planet Sprague, for refugee camps and rapid colonization.

My Government will devote resources as needed to emphasize exploration with the intention of increasing Bretonia's resources.

A Bill will be introduced to strengthen the law against bribery.

My Government will open a diplomatic initiative with the leaders of the Molly Republic, with the intention of reaching a mutually beneficial settlement.

My Government will foster closer ties with the Republic of Liberty and the Federal Republic of Rheinland.

A Bill will be introduced to reduce regulatory burdens on business.

My Government will also strengthen key public services, ensuring that individual entitlements guarantee good services and will work to build trust in government institutions.

My Government will introduce legislation to expand and improve on our nation's infrastructure, in order to improve our people's quality of life and the strength of our economy.

Legislation will be brought forward to introduce large-scale recycling and scrap salvaging programs in order to provide materials for shipbuilding.

Other measures will be laid before you.

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

With the speech concluded, the Bells of the Great Tower were rung to signify the conclusion of the ceremony and the crowds below in the streets erupted in cheering, in an apparant outpouring of support for Carina and Her Government, both of whom continue to enjoy remarkably high popularity throughout the Realm.

Her Majesty's speech touched on several topics; the war of course featered heavily in its content - war matters now take up a considerable part of parliamentary time, though some other interesting policy announcements in there as well. The opening of Planet Sprague and increased exploration funding are seen as surprise announcements by many commentators, as is the suggestion of plans to re-open peace talks with the mollies - perhaps indicative of the hard-pressed state of the Armed Forces at the moment. The mention of closer ties with Rheinland as well might be connected to rumours of a meeting between Sir Stanley Nelson and Admiral Malte of the Rheinland Military, with some analysts suggesting that the two governments could use the upcoming renewal of the Omega Trade Pact to make some significant changes to their relationship.

John Parker, BBC News, New Westminster.

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Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>