Queen's Speech is a Vote for John Reid for PM

7.00 Arrive Ipswich station in planty of time for the 7.08 departure. Naturally, it's running late. Thank goodness, Her Majesty does not rely on One Railway and Network Rail to get her to the Commons on time.

8.30 Pull into Liverpool Street, remarkably only a few minutes behind scheule.

9.00 The streets around Parliament Square have been closed off, crowd control barriers are in place. A man standing opposite the main entrance to the Commons is waving a "John Reid for PM" placard. Her Majesty will no doubt note on her journey by that there's a clamour for this ex-Communist to write her next loyal address from the Throne.Loads of gun toting police about.

10.45 Report to the Door Keeper of the House of Lords. |Just 20 seats for the Press Gallery have been allocated. I've got one of them.

11.05 The Royal procession leaves Buckingham Palace. Watch on the giant plasma screens in the Lords. Ladies in tiaras and Lords in ermine milling around.

11.25 Part of the procession arrives in the Lords chamber. Hush descends on the assembled throng until a mobile rings. There always has to be one doesn't there! And obviously it belongs to titled lady and everyonr glares at her as she fumbles in her handbag to turn it off.

11.30 Queen arrives. The chamber goes quiet again. Once sat on the throne, the oiks down the corridor - Prime Minister and MPs - are summoned to crowd at the bar of the House. I have sympathy with Labour MPs who resent all the ermines and tiaras having precedence over them, the supreme parliamentary body.

11.45 That's your lot. The Queen's off and down the corridor. Back to the Palace just after noon, having read a speech full of rhetoric on how the Government will be tough on law, order and migration after 10 years of doing nothing. A penny for her thoughts.