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The Queen has set out the new government's legislative agenda for its first year, with flagship bills on political reform, schools and plans to scrap ID cards.
In her speech marking the state opening of Parliament, the Queen announced 22 pieces of legislation and one draft bill.
Her Majesty told peers and MPs: "My government's legislative programme will be based upon the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility.
"The first priority is to reduce the deficit and restore economic growth."
The new coalition government's programme reflects compromises reached by the Conservatives and Lib Dems when they agreed to share power.
The full tradition of pomp and pageantry started with the Yeomen of the Guard, the oldest of the royal bodyguards, appearing ahead of the Queen's arrival.
Prime minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg walked together to Parliament from Downing Street.
The main themes of the address are "freedom, fairness and responsibility", including a "Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill" set to get rid of legislation introduced by the Labour government, opposed by both the Tories and Lib Dems in opposition.
Bills announced include:
- A law to create a new Office for Budget Reponsibility, which will take on the job of making Budget forecasts
- A Financial Reform Bill which will address regulation of financial services;
- An Academies Bill which will enable more schools to achieve Academy status, give teachers more freedom over curriculum and allow "new providers" to run state schools;
- A Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill designed to make the police service more accountable to local people and tackle alcohol-related violence and disorder;
- A Postal Services Bill that will allow an injection of private capital into the Royal Mail, addressing its pension deficit;
- An Airport economic regulation bill that aims to promote competition in the airport market, possibly breaking up the BAA monopoly;
- A European Union Bill that ensures that there is a referendum on any future plan to transfer power to the European Union;
- A Parliamentary reform bill to offer a referendum on electoral reform, provide fixed-term parliaments of five years and allow constituents to sack their MPs.
Other legislation includes a welfare reform bill to simplify the benefits system and the provision of compensation for Equitable Life policyholders.
The Queen also announced that the government will hold a full strategic defence and security review and look for an "enhanced" relationship with India.
Following the official opening of Parliament, both Houses start to debate the proposed programme of new laws and policies, from 25 May to 2 June.
Cameron will begin the debates in the Commons over the plans, with acting Labour leader Harriet Harman responding for the opposition, in their first clash across the despatch box.
The Queen's Speech will be followed on Wednesday 2 June with the first prime minister's questions of the new parliamentary session.
An ICM poll for the Guardian on Tuesday found nearly two-thirds of voters approved of the coalition, including more than two-thirds of supporters of each of the parties involved.
Stakeholder Response: Matt Collins, Chance UK
We sincerely hope that in all the budget cuts, the government remembers the need to back early intervention projects to reduce crime and save money in the long term.
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