King's Speech LIVE - all the announcements, news, and reaction from State Opening of Parliament

His Majesty King Charles III will perform one of his key duties of monarch today (November 7) - reading the King's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament.

In a ceremony dressed with tradition, members from both the House of Commons and House of Lords will crowd into the Palace of Westminster to see the King announce plans of the government for the next year. The event dates back to the 17th century, and marks the start of a new parliamentary session, which usually lasts for a year.

It involves various customs not seen in other aspects of Britain's political life, including Black Rod - the officer in charge of maintaining order in the House of Lords - banging on the door of the Commons, as is the taking of one MP "hostage" to secure the safe return of the monarch.

READ MORE : Five things that could feature in the King's Speech

But the speech also has important functions for modern political life, too. It announces the government's plans for the next year, and is likely to be the final King's Speech before the election next year.

This year, there is a focus by Rishi Sunak's government on crime, with plans to force criminals to attend their sentencing hearings, and introducing mandatory whole-life jail terms in the worst cases of murder thought to be on the agenda. Other measures could include the phased smoking ban, which will mean today's 14-year-olds will never be able to legally smoke.

There are also set to be reforms to the leasehold and rental sector, and a regulator for English football could well be set up.

We'll have all the latest from Parliament and the King's Speech 2023 below.

The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is now making his way through Parliament via central lobby to the House of Commons. He is watched