Historical parallels - and jokes...
I don't know how many people outside the Westminster village will be waiting, teeth a-gleam, to discover the full content of the Queen's Speech.
According to the batting order for today's ceremony, all should be revealed from 11.37am, when Her Majesty addresses the combined Houses of Parliament from the throne, in the House of Lords.
But this year there will be one interesting historical parallel. Striding alongside such figures as the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, Thomas Woodcock, and the Clarenceaux King of Arms, Hubert Chesshyre, in the Sovereign's Procession, will be the Lord President of the Council, . Sixty years ago, it was his famous grandfather Herbert Morrison, Lord President in Clement Attlee's government, who processed alongside George VI.
The parallels don't end there. This year is the 60th anniversary of the second Parliament Act (1949) which cut the House of Lords' power to delay legislation from two years to one - a bill piloted through the Commons by Herbert Morrison. Not a lot of people know that.
TV cameras
And it's more or less the 20th anniversary of the of the House of Commons, which followed the State Opening in 1989, when the late Ian Gow made the first televised speech in the Chamber.
One other point of ceremonial. A custom that has become every bit as immovable as the carrying of the Cap of Maintenance (given to kings of England by the Pope, to symbolise their learning, since you ask....) is the annual Joke, which is shouted at Black Rod as he summons the Commons.
Previous shouts have included:
1992: "Tell her to pay her taxes," after revelations about the Royal income.
1997 "New Labour, New Black Rod..." a pun on Labour's election slogan, New Labour, New Britain.
2000 "Tell her to read The Guardian," because the newspaper was calling for the abolition of the monarchy.
2006 "Have you got Helen Mirren on standby," after the Oscar-winning film The Queen.
These always result in laughter, sometimes even a roar of laughter if the Beast of Bolsover gets his comic timing spot on.
Doubtless the next quip is already prepared...
UPDATE: This year's Dennis Skinner moment consisted of five rather doleful words: "Royal Expenses're on their way."
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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