it has been a difficult year for the government. they are trailing labour in the polls right now and so we will hear more about what they intend to do in the coming year and how they intend to win back some of those voters. with me is our political correspondent damian grammaticus. give us a sense of how significant today is but also what we might hear when the king, as you are telling us, delivers a speech not written by him but by the government? it not written by him but by the government?— not written by him but by the government? , , ., government? it is significant. you are talking — government? it is significant. you are talking about _ government? it is significant. you are talking about elections, - government? it is significant. you l are talking about elections, looking forward to elections. this is a government that is trailing heavily in the polls, 10—15% behind. it needs to change that sort of dynamic, needs to find something to start shifting the needle and drawing back those voters who have been telling pollsters that they are not inclined to vote conservative. so the government needs to lay out things and that is what will be what the king will read out, the speech on behalf of the government, focusing on crime and justice, tougher sentences, tougher measures that judges tougher sentences, tougher measures thatjudges will be able to have when they are looking at sentencing people. that sort of thing will be one thing. economic measures another. government talking about dealing with the sort of challenges people face and then a whole bunch of other measures around that, so things like leasehold reform, so trying to make things, trying to phase out leases, the system of leases a new build properties. so something to help people that are trying to buy. that is about tackling the housing shortage. so looking at things like that can make a difference in people's lives. there will be elements of that all across the spectrum, 20 different measures or so they will be laying out. but these are all things they have to calibrate, things they can achieve in a fairly short space of time, so nothing too controversial that would take up too much argument and debating time but also things that could be seen to deliver benefits in the next few months. so they have a pretty short timetable to do things and get things changed. that is the point, they don't have very long before we potentially have a general election here. those that you have described already, they feel very much like domestic policies, the policies i guess voters will decide who they want in that place, in number 10, voters will decide who they want in that place, in numberio, next voters will decide who they want in that place, in number 10, next year. is there a danger right now that whatever goes on here today is overshadowed by events elsewhere, and i'm thinking particularly the war in the middle east but we also know that covid inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic, that is ongoing. it makes it very difficult for the prime minister to shake of the past. it does, and this week we have already been hearing at that covid inquiry descriptions of rishi sunak�*s part in the government's handling of covid and criticism allegedly made by borisjohnson, who was then prime minister, of rishi sunak�*s role as chancellor, saying he was part of the pro—death squad in the treasury because they wanted to favour economic growth over lockdown measures. some dispute in the inquiry about whether those words are actually said or not but exactly, it has focused peoples attention again on the actions of the conservative government in the last few years, particularly in the pandemic. a lot of revelations about behaviour in government, the language used by advisers, the concerns amongst their civil servants and scientific advisers about the policies that were being made. so a lot of focus there on how the government managed there on how the government managed the pandemic. that is going to go on and on, that inquiry, that isjust one thing. of course, rishi sunak is intimately associated, was a member of that government, was chancellor before that and had other roles in government. find before that and had other roles in government-— before that and had other roles in government. before that and had other roles in covernment. �* , , , , ., government. and despite his wish to draw a line under _ government. and despite his wish to draw a line under all— government. and despite his wish to draw a line under all of _ government. and despite his wish to draw a line under all of that, - government. and despite his wish to draw a line under all of that, he - draw a line under all of that, he played an instrumental role in it? he did, he was chancellor. he worked in other government roles before that as well. so he is going to stand up and he is going to say that this is all about delivering on priorities for the people, bringing changes. but to try to shift perceptions is going to be a difficultjob for him because people will, and the labour party, the opposition party will want to point to the government's record notjust now but going back a decade or more. stay with us. that is the seen live in downing street this morning, where we are expecting the prime minister to make his way from to the house of commons. it is not a long journey but he will leave there and we are expecting to see the king depart from buckingham palace a little later this morning. let me run you through what we are expecting. as we said, as well as all the politics, there is a lot of p°mp all the politics, there is a lot of pomp involved in today. what happens? the state opening begins with a procession in which the king travels from buckingham palace to here in westminster. he will do so in the carriage. on arrival, he will use the sovereign's entrance, there is in the picture, and is reserved exclusively for the use of the monarchy. the king will then process to the throne in the house of lords. mps will be summoned to the house of lords by black rod, an official position held by the first female to hold the role, sarah clarke. this is where it gets interesting because before entering the commons, black rod has the door shut on its face. that signifies the independence from the monarch. his majesty will then make the speech and set out the rules of the law one —— government wants to get through in the next year. mps, peers and other dignitaries generally listen in silence. then we will hear a little later from silence. then we will hear a little laterfrom both silence. then we will hear a little later from both the silence. then we will hear a little laterfrom both the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, sir keir starmer and, the leader of the opposition, sir keir starmerand, it the leader of the opposition, sir keir starmer and, it goes on for quite a while, there will be debating the house of lords and the house of commons. as i said, it is the first king's speech in more than 70 years. it is a significant moment. a lot of preparation is under way to make today go off without a hitch. i want to take you now live inside the houses of parliament for a bbc exclusive. our deputy political editor vicki young is inside the building behind me and she is meeting a very special guest, getting ready for a very big day. just explain where you are, good morning. that is right, i am here with sir lindsay hoyle, the speaker of the house of commons and we are in their speaker's house. just to say that the location is part of the palace of westminster and we are right next to the river thames. it is a beautiful building. it is somewhere where sir lindsay hoyle is days when he's working, functions held here all the time foster but we have never been allowed in here on an important day like this when someone has a lot of getting ready to do. you have done the queen's speech before, how many of these have you done? . , . , before, how many of these have you done? . , ., , , ., done? that is a very good question. as speaker. — done? that is a very good question. as speaker, this _ done? that is a very good question. as speaker, this is _ done? that is a very good question. as speaker, this is my _ done? that is a very good question. as speaker, this is my third, - done? that is a very good question. as speaker, this is my third, so - as speaker, this is my third, so very excited but very excited because this is the first 4/70 years for the king's speech. it is an amazing day. for the king's speech. it is an amazing day-— for the king's speech. it is an amazin: da . ., ~ ., , for the king's speech. it is an amazin: da . ., ~ . , ., amazing day. the work that must go into theirs, — amazing day. the work that must go into theirs, the _ amazing day. the work that must go into theirs, the preparation, - into theirs, the preparation, everyone wants it to go without a hitch. as far as your role goes, let's talk about your clothes because if i move over here, you can see behind me the robes you will be wearing and you will be putting those on in a little bit. not quite for the cameras, we will let you do that in private! tell us what all this is an this particular special bit of lace. it this is an this particular special bit of lace-— this is an this particular special bit of lace. , ., ., bit of lace. it is quite amazing. i don't wear _ bit of lace. it is quite amazing. i don't wear tights _ bit of lace. it is quite amazing. i don't wear tights every - bit of lace. it is quite amazing. i don't wear tights every day, - bit of lace. it is quite amazing. i don't wear tights every day, so l don't wear tights every day, so todayis don't wear tights every day, so today is the day i put my tights, my breaches on. of course, the jacket and the golden gown is quite amazing. it is made with gold, gold wire. a beautiful but really heavy, you certainly know you are wearing it and it is certainly something that keeps you warm. but what i think especially is this lace. here we are, we have the otters on there, it represents honiton and the [ace makers and it was made for speaker weatherall. but betty boothroyd she wore theirs and the history is there, the [ace of honiton, which i think it's really special. there, the lace of honiton, which i think it's really special.— think it's really special. there was a lot of history — think it's really special. there was a lot of history today _ think it's really special. there was a lot of history today for _ think it's really special. there was a lot of history today for lots - think it's really special. there was a lot of history today for lots of i a lot of history today for lots of different people. the other thing is this mirror. i don't know if our camera can take a look at this. this mirror has been used by the queen for decades but today, you get to use it. it is, it's quite amazing because this lives in speaker's house, this is part of our history. but of course, this has always gone to the lords. ., , course, this has always gone to the lords. . , ., lords. literally wheeled down. wheeled down, _ lords. literally wheeled down. wheeled down, carried - lords. literally wheeled down. wheeled down, carried down l lords. literally wheeled down. i wheeled down, carried down with lords. literally wheeled down. - wheeled down, carried down with the greatest of care. we put it online to the lords for the day. the majesty used to use this for the crown, a beautiful mirror and it was a way to use. for once, the speaker is using it. 70 years, we finally haveit is using it. 70 years, we finally have it back on the big day, so i can use the mirror today. do have it back on the big day, so i can use the mirror today. do you do rehearsals? — can use the mirror today. do you do rehearsals? l— can use the mirror today. do you do rehearsals? i am _ can use the mirror today. do you do rehearsals? i am assuming - can use the mirror today. do you do rehearsals? i am assuming the - can use the mirror today. do you doj rehearsals? i am assuming the king doesn't pop in for rehearsals, he seen lots of times from a distance, do you do rehearsals for a day like this? ~ ., �* ., . ~ ., ., this? we do indeed. black rod and m self, this? we do indeed. black rod and myself. yesterday _ this? we do indeed. black rod and myself, yesterday we _ this? we do indeed. black rod and myself, yesterday we went - this? we do indeed. black rod and | myself, yesterday we went through this? we do indeed. black rod and i myself, yesterday we went through it again. we said, let's get the preparation right. we did it twice, a walk—through, banging on the door, slamming the door... that a walk-through, banging on the door, slamming the door. . ._ slamming the door... that is that bit lots of people _ slamming the door... that is that bit lots of people know _ slamming the door... that is that bit lots of people know about. - bit lots of people know about. absolutely. we did the practice of it. i'm going to build the lords in there, there is a big knock on the door and we went through that, she comes in and vows to the government and enter the opposition. she asks me tojoin her in and enter the opposition. she asks me to join her in the and enter the opposition. she asks me tojoin her in the house of and enter the opposition. she asks me to join her in the house of peers and off we go. we went through the steps we have to do because the gown, and it's quite interesting, people might not have noticed. when i walked out, the train is on my arm. suddenly it is off my arm, behind me and all of this has been prepared. when i get to the house of lords, i'm going on, suddenly it is put back on my arm and i walked in and when i get out, it's the same in reverse, where myself and black rod walked together. i reverse, where myself and black rod walked together.— walked together. i have to say, you have to pinch _ walked together. i have to say, you have to pinch yourself _ walked together. i have to say, you have to pinch yourself on _ walked together. i have to say, you have to pinch yourself on these - have to pinch yourself on these great occasions. do you get nervous? i don't have time to get nervous and the good thing is the people around me do the nervous bit for me. nervous faces behind you. i’m me do the nervous bit for me. nervous faces behind you. i'm lucky, the chief of — nervous faces behind you. i'm lucky, the chief of staff _ nervous faces behind you. i'm lucky, the chief of staff takes _ nervous faces behind you. i'm lucky, the chief of staff takes all _ nervous faces behind you. i'm lucky, the chief of staff takes all the - the chief of staff takes all the nerves, she wakes up on the day, already she will have played it ten times. we have to get it right, if we don't, there is nothing we can do. this is a big day, a day that matters. i have to say, we are on the world's stage and i really do enjoy the big occasions. so to me it is a day we have to get the best out of. ., . , , of. you have met the king i presume over our of. you have met the king i presume over your years. _ of. you have met the king i presume over your years, you've _ of. you have met the king i presume over your years, you've been - of. you have met the king i presume over your years, you've been an - of. you have met the king i presume over your years, you've been an mpl over your years, you've been an mp for quite a long time, how much have you had to deal with him over the years? you had to deal with him over the ears? ~ , years? well, i first met him in rison! years? well, i first met him in prison! l— years? well, i first met him in prison! i reminded _ years? well, i first met him in prison! i reminded him - years? well, i first met him in prison! i reminded him of- years? well, i first met him in prison! i reminded him of this| years? well, i first met him in i prison! i reminded him of this he said we met before, i said that is right, in prison. in fairness to his majesty, it threw him. i said we were looking at prisoners, how we can actually ensure they have a better quality of life when they leave with realjobs. leave with real “obs. constituency? yes, leave with real “obs. constituency? ves. that-s — leave with realjobs. constituency? yes, that's where _ leave with realjobs. constituency? yes, that's where we _ leave with realjobs. constituency? yes, that's where we first - leave with realjobs. constituency? yes, that's where we first met. - leave with realjobs. constituency? i yes, that's where we first met. even he had to smile at that one. since then, we meet on the different occasions, the big occasions. i do meet with his majesty. tragically, of course, when his mother died, who we all thought would never end but all good things did come to an end and of course a lot of dealings with the royal family. and of course a lot of dealings with the royalfamily. a very and of course a lot of dealings with the royal family. a very moving period, a period of sadness. but out of that game a new and that is the thing about this country, isn't it? we all remember and have ever only known one thing. to have his majesty is a new turning of the page and he will create history in his way and just being part of that has been an amazing period. i have had probably the most difficult terms at speaker, the most difficult terms at speaker, the pandemic, the queen dying and i'm now looking forward to the glory days ahead. i'm now looking forward to the glory da s ahead. ., ._ i'm now looking forward to the glory days ahead-— days ahead. today is one to en'oy. their memory. i days ahead. today is one to en'oy. their memory, people i days ahead. today is one to en'oy. their memory, people looking h days ahead. today is one to enjoy. | their memory, people looking from the outside, they house of lords chamber, absolutely packed with people. it is a busy time for the parliamentary estate and i think lots of people don't realise how many people work here. you are sort of the overseer of the people who work on this estate? i of the overseer of the people who work on this estate?— of the overseer of the people who work on this estate? i suppose, kind of chairman — work on this estate? i suppose, kind of chairman of— work on this estate? i suppose, kind of chairman of the _ work on this estate? i suppose, kind of chairman of the board _ work on this estate? i suppose, kind of chairman of the board of - work on this estate? i suppose, kind of chairman of the board of a - of chairman of the board of a business because it is a big business. people think, there he is in the chair but it is much greater than that. the fact we have security issues, we have staff issues to look after, health and well—being really matters to me, looking after this building, the fabric of all this building, the fabric of all this building, it all comes before... i chair the commission. i have to say, it matters to me. parliament matters, democracy matters and the people who work it matter to me as well. that is notjust about the mps but the staff in the commons and the mps. i want is to be a workplace people will be envious of. it is a big challenge at the moment but we will get there. big challenge at the moment but we will get there-— will get there. there is a lot of chat about _ will get there. there is a lot of chat about the _ will get there. there is a lot of chat about the place _ will get there. there is a lot of chat about the place itself. - will get there. there is a lot of| chat about the place itself. this room is beautiful, or looks in a very good state but that is not the state of the whole place, there are challenges about the building itself and lots of people are trying to look after that as well. at}! and lots of people are trying to look after that as well. of course, bu