20 JANUARY 1967, Page 6

Ebe %pectator

January 19, 1867

The Queen is to open Parliament herself. —"with the same state," says the Times, "as last year." Does this mean that she will not read the Speech herself? We hope she may, for she reads much better than Lord Chelmsford. If the State robe reaches her lap this time, instead of coming almost up to her knees, it will be some- thing. Like the marble prince in the story, the regal life may gradually creep up her till she is wholly Queen again.