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By CNN's Rob Picheta and Lauren Said-Moorhouse in London

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It is one of the few days when the grandeur of Britain’s royalty meets the gravitas of its politics – and one of the most important dates in King Charles III’s calendar.

Charles opened a new session of the British parliament on Wednesday with the ceremonial King’s Speech, in which he read out the agenda that the new Labour government will pursue.

It is, essentially, a roadmap of the next year or two of the country’s politics, previewing the would-be laws that politicians and the public will debate and dissect. But it’s also an opportunity to show off the extravagance and tradition of the monarchy, and features a series of centuries-old conventions that dazzled passing tourists and caught even some new lawmakers off guard.

The show begins mid-morning when the Yeomen of the Guard, dressed in red Tudor-era uniforms, search the cellars below Parliament with lamps – a nod to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. But all morning around Westminster, more modern security – in the form of armed guards and police cordons – were present for the King’s arrival.

The monarch set off from Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla, who was celebrating her 77th birthday, in a grand carriage procession down the Mall and into the Sovereign’s Entrance at the foot of Victoria Tower.

The coach carrying the royal regalia – the Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Great Sword of State – traveled in front of the monarch. On arriving at Westminster, the regalia was placed on display in the Royal Gallery. Once the King was on the throne, Black Rod, who is the traditional gatekeeper of the House of Lords, summoned members of the House of Commons to attend the monarch’s speech in the Lords, the upper chamber.

The state opening of parliament is an event unique in the UK ceremonial calendar in that it brings together in one place the three branches of the government – the sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

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Wednesday’s event was not Charles’ first – he opened parliament last year, and also stepped in for his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, during her later years. But it did mark his first under a new government, after the Labour party won this month’s general election in a landslide.

There is much that Charles and new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have in common. Both have advocated for Britain to take a leading role in tackling climate change, and Starmer put a housebuilding push front and center in his new parliamentary agenda, which probably pleased the King, who has a passion for architecture and helped craft the experimental new village of Poundbury, seen by some as a model for how Britain could tackle its housing crisis.

But other parts of Starmer’s agenda may have been a touch more delicate for the monarch; none more so than his plan to reform the very chamber in which Charles delivered his speech.

Under government plans, hereditary peers will no longer be able to sit and vote in the House of Lords, in a “first step in wider reform” to the chamber. Future steps may include forcing lords to retire when they reach the age of 80, an election promise that wasn’t put forward in the speech at this time. There are 92 hereditary peers still allowed to sit and vote in the upper chamber, hailing from Britain’s aristocracy.

During the opening stages of debate on the King’s Speech, Starmer and his predecessor – now the opposition leader – Rishi Sunak both praised Charles for attending on Wednesday despite his cancer diagnosis. 

Then they launched into a back-and-forth on Starmer’s plans, which included pledges to revive economic growth, tackle illegal migration and bring down knife crime.

The day was a reminder of Britain’s constitutional oddities and its wealth of traditions and rituals – before the grind of political debate seized hold of Westminster once again.

Kate heads to Wimbledon for the tennis… 

The Princess of Wales received a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd as she attended the Wimbledon men’s singles final in London on Sunday alongside her daughter, Princess Charlotte. Kate and Charlotte greeted several British tennis players, including 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, before taking their seats in the Royal Box for the showdown between reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and seven-time winner Novak Djokovic. Kate – who is known to have a passion for sports and is an enthusiastic tennis fan – has been patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016. Read the full story here.

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…as William watches the football.

Meanwhile, her husband traveled to Berlin with their eldest, Prince George, for the UEFA Euro 2024 final clash between England and Spain. The Prince of Wales, who is the president of England’s Football Association and a regular sight at England football games, was one of the first to commiserate with the Three Lions, as the team is known, after Spain secured victory with a late goal that took the final score to 2-1. “This time it just wasn’t meant to be. We’re all still so proud of you,” William wrote in a post on social media. King Charles also sent a message of support to coach Gareth Southgate and his team, writing that “although victory may have eluded you this evening, nevertheless my wife and I join all my family in urging you and your support team to hold your heads high.” He continued, “All those who have participated in sporting activities at any level will know how utterly despairing such a result can feel when the prize was so near – and will join me in sending heartfelt sympathy, even as we congratulate Spain.” He concluded by saying that the team’s success in reaching the final was a “great achievement in itself” that “brings with it the pride of a nation.” 

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King Charles III hosted European leaders at Blenheim Palace – a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill – in Oxfordshire, southern England, on Thursday. The royal reception was held alongside the European Political Community (EPC) meeting, which brought together more than 45 leaders from Europe to discuss some of the continent’s most pressing issues. This year’s meeting focused on Ukraine, energy security and migration. Charles was met at Blenheim’s Great Court by newly installed UK Prime Minister Starmer before the pair headed inside for the reception.   

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla are planning to head down under. The royal couple will travel to Australia in October as part of a tour that will also see them visit Samoa for this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday.
 
The forthcoming visit to Australia will be the 75-year-old monarch’s first trip to a Commonwealth realm since he ascended the throne. In addition to the United Kingdom, Charles is also head of state in 14 realms including Australia, New Zealand and Canada, though his role is largely ceremonial.
 
Charles and Camilla are visiting the nation “at the invitation of the Australian government, where their program will feature engagements in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales,” the palace said.
 
He last visited Australia with his wife six years ago, when they traveled to the Gold Coast for the opening of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
 
Get the full story here.

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That trip is still a way off but that doesn’t mean the King and Queen are resting on their laurels. On Monday, the royal couple visited Jersey as part of a two-day trip to the Channel Islands. It was Charles and Camilla’s first visit since the King acceded to the throne. They visited the capital, St. Helier, and attended a special sitting of Jersey’s parliament, the States Assembly, and the Royal Court, followed by a large-scale open-air expo. During the visit, Charles shared a moment with Jersey's last D-Day veteran, 100-year-old Ernest Thorne.

"Super trooper! So great to see you back so soon!"

– Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales

The couple congratulated Princess Anne on carrying out her first public engagement since suffering concussion in a horse-related accident last month. Their heartfelt message on social media on Saturday, signed “W & C x,”  was accompanied by a carousel of photographs of the Princess Royal at the Riding for the Disabled Association’s National Championships last Friday. Anne’s appearance marked her “gradual return” to royal duties following her brief hospitalization last month.  

Royal News will take a two-week break for the start of the summer holidays. But don’t worry, we shall return with the regular newsletter on August 9. 

--Max & Lauren