The Shadow Over Downing Street: How a Humble Coffee Meeting Outshines the King's Speech The pomp and circumstance surrounding the State Opening of Parliament have been eclipsed by a rather more mundane event.
A private meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has generated far more headlines and speculation than the King's ceremonial visit to Westminster.
Government figures had scheduled the State Opening for this week in an attempt to create a distraction from the expected tumultuous election results.