It was pomp and ceremony as usual as Queen Elizabeth II opened Britain’s parliament Wednesday. Despite the tough economic times – and reports she wants to reduce lavish spending in the royal family – the Queen was dressed in silks, furs, and the glittering Imperial State crown. 
She even arrived to the House of Lords in her usual horse drawn carriage, with page boys carrying her long train. Her husband, Prince Philip, was her escort. He was dressed in a highly decorated military uniform.
Sitting a top of her golden throne, the Queen read her government’s plans for 2009.
She listed fewer legislative proposals than expected — adding to speculation that Prime Minister Gordon Brown plans to call a general election sooner rather than later — and focused on ways to protect low-income families from the impact of the economic slowdown, curb crime, and check illegal immigration.
“My government’s overriding priority is to secure the stability of the British economy during the global economic downturn,” the Queen told lawmakers and peers.
“My government is committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times. The strength of the financial sector is vital to the future vibrancy of the economy.
“Therefore legislation will continue to be taken forward to ensure fairer and more secure protection for bank depositors and to improve the resilience of the financial sector.”
This Queen’s Speech comes against the gloomiest economic backdrop that Brown’s Labor Party has had to face since coming to power under Tony Blair in 1997.
Britain’s official unemployment rate jumped to an 11-year high of 5.8 percent in the three months to September. In October, Bank of England governor Mervyn King warned it was “likely” Britain was entering recession.
David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservatives, said the government’s proposals showed a lack of new ideas.
“Let me tell him (Brown) what is wrong with this Queen’s Speech — there is no recognition in the government’s program about how the world has changed,” Cameron said.
“There is no serious reform, there is just bureaucratic bungling, and technocratic tinkering.”
The Queen’s Speech marks the start of a new parliamentary session and is a tradition dating back to the 16th century.
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