A man has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murdering two men whose remains were found in suitcases at Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge and at a London flat.
Yostin Andres Mosquera, of Scotts Road, Shepherd’s Bush, west London, is accused of murdering Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, between 8 and 10 July in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
The defendant, a Colombian national, appeared via video link and was remanded into custody. He listened intently as his Spanish interpreter relayed proceedings.
Mr Mosquera is set to next appear at the same court for a plea hearing on 2 October.
Prosecutor Teresa Hay, also appearing in court by video link, formally accused Mr Mosquera of killing the two men.
She told the court she was not aware of any links the defendant had to the UK other than through the deceased.
Mr Longworth was British and Mr Alfonso was originally from France with British citizenship.
PA Media
Ms Hay told the court Avon and Somerset police had been called to the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol shortly before midnight on 10 July, where officers had discovered human remains in suitcases that were linked to an address in Shepherd’s Bush, west London.
Police entered the London address, in Scotts Road, where they found more remains, the prosecutor said.
Following a high-profile search, the defendant was arrested on Saturday at 02:15 BST at Bristol Temple Meads train station.
Mr Mosquera’s defence barrister, Edward Hetherington, also appearing via video link, did not make an application for bail.
Footage shows search team who found body in Jay Slater search in action
Support truly independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
A charity has revealed the pain suffered by Jay Slater’s family after a near-month-long search came to an end with the discovery of the teenager’s body.
Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, said her family’s “hearts are broken” after it was confirmed that the human remains found in Tenerife on Monday belonged to her son.
His body was found close to where his phone last pinged after disappearing near the village of Masca while on holidayon the Spanish island.
The case attracted worldwide publicity with many people taking to Facebook groups to share theories on what happened to the 19-year-old.
The apprentice bricklayer had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca with two men after a festival on 16 June. He appeared to start an 11-hour walk back to his apartment the following morning before vanishing.
Charity LBT Global Ltd chief executive Matthew Searle said online detectives had hindered the search and added pain for the family.
Speaking to The Independent, he added: “She’s [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”
Sky News focused in on some of the theories that circulated during the disappearance of Jay Slater, asking charity LBT Global, which supported the family, how they had impacted the search.
Matthew Searle, the charity’s chief executive, said it took teams a “huge amount of time” to eliminate the ideas flown about that were untrue.
Hundreds of emails were also sent to his charity from people who claimed they knew how Jay was - each one of them had to be followed up, Mr Searle said.
Mr Searle said: “Ultimately it hinders the search and it’s terrifyingly horrible for a family that are going through this.”
As reported, charity LBT Global has been helping the family of Jay Slater.
It produced a statement on behalf of Jay’s mother after he was found, and now chief executive Matthew Searle has been speaking on the teenager’s mother, Debbie Duncan’s, behalf.
When interviewed by The Independent, Mr Searle said frenzies speculation and online trolling had made it “incredibly difficult” for the family.
He said: “She’s [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”
Mr Searle plans to speak to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on the issue
The spiralling of theories spouted out by people on Facebook groups hindered the search for Jay Salter, claims the boss of the charity which helped his family.
The case attracted huge worldwide attention, after the 19-year-old went missing while on holiday in the island.
But while people thought they might be helping the search teams’ efforts on the ground, Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, said they were, in fact, hindering them.
He’s also spoken of his concern over the vile comments spread about the teenager, which he said caused pain for the family.
He now plans to talk to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on how to tackle the issue.
Jay Slater's family 'take small comfort' from belief he died instantly
Jay Slater's family have taken "very small comfort" in their belief that he died instantly after falling from a significant height, a charity chief who has been speaking with his mother has said.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent he had been speaking with Debbie Duncan, 55, at length after Spanish authorities concluded her son's injuries were consistent with an accidental fall.
Mr Searle, whose charity has been supporting Mr Slater's family during this ordeal, said they had looked closely at the area where the rescue teams were searching when they found the 19-year-old's body.
“Chances are if he did fall from a height where we saw the recovery teams then it’s very unlikely he would have known much about it,” said the charity CEO. “That takes away the horrible nightmare idea that he fell and was waiting for help that never came. It’s very small comfort, but it is some.”
Civil Guard insist they continued search discreetly
Tenerife’s civil guard insists it had continued its search discreetly, despite having publicly called off the search over two weeks ago.
After 13 days of searching, the Spanish authorities called off the search on June 30, but said they were continuing their investigation.
However upon recovering Jay Slater’s body on Monday, they revealed they had indeed continued an “incessant and discreet” search in which the “natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers”.
Jay Slater’s phone was last located near a stretch of road by the Mirador La Cruz de Hilda, a cafe near the village of Masca with cacti and dense shrubbery on either side, which had made it slow work for helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs to comb through the area.
The body discovered on Monday morning was found by Civil Guard mountain rescue specialists in a “very inaccessible” area, officials said.
Footage shows search team who found body in Jay Slater search in action
Support truly independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
A charity has revealed the pain suffered by Jay Slater’s family after a near-month-long search came to an end with the discovery of the teenager’s body.
Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, said her family’s “hearts are broken” after it was confirmed that the human remains found in Tenerife on Monday belonged to her son.
His body was found close to where his phone last pinged after disappearing near the village of Masca while on holidayon the Spanish island.
The case attracted worldwide publicity with many people taking to Facebook groups to share theories on what happened to the 19-year-old.
The apprentice bricklayer had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca with two men after a festival on 16 June. He appeared to start an 11-hour walk back to his apartment the following morning before vanishing.
Charity LBT Global Ltd chief executive Matthew Searle said online detectives had hindered the search and added pain for the family.
Speaking to The Independent, he added: “She’s [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”
Sky News focused in on some of the theories that circulated during the disappearance of Jay Slater, asking charity LBT Global, which supported the family, how they had impacted the search.
Matthew Searle, the charity’s chief executive, said it took teams a “huge amount of time” to eliminate the ideas flown about that were untrue.
Hundreds of emails were also sent to his charity from people who claimed they knew how Jay was - each one of them had to be followed up, Mr Searle said.
Mr Searle said: “Ultimately it hinders the search and it’s terrifyingly horrible for a family that are going through this.”
As reported, charity LBT Global has been helping the family of Jay Slater.
It produced a statement on behalf of Jay’s mother after he was found, and now chief executive Matthew Searle has been speaking on the teenager’s mother, Debbie Duncan’s, behalf.
When interviewed by The Independent, Mr Searle said frenzies speculation and online trolling had made it “incredibly difficult” for the family.
He said: “She’s [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”
Mr Searle plans to speak to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on the issue
The spiralling of theories spouted out by people on Facebook groups hindered the search for Jay Salter, claims the boss of the charity which helped his family.
The case attracted huge worldwide attention, after the 19-year-old went missing while on holiday in the island.
But while people thought they might be helping the search teams’ efforts on the ground, Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, said they were, in fact, hindering them.
He’s also spoken of his concern over the vile comments spread about the teenager, which he said caused pain for the family.
He now plans to talk to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on how to tackle the issue.
Jay Slater's family 'take small comfort' from belief he died instantly
Jay Slater's family have taken "very small comfort" in their belief that he died instantly after falling from a significant height, a charity chief who has been speaking with his mother has said.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent he had been speaking with Debbie Duncan, 55, at length after Spanish authorities concluded her son's injuries were consistent with an accidental fall.
Mr Searle, whose charity has been supporting Mr Slater's family during this ordeal, said they had looked closely at the area where the rescue teams were searching when they found the 19-year-old's body.
“Chances are if he did fall from a height where we saw the recovery teams then it’s very unlikely he would have known much about it,” said the charity CEO. “That takes away the horrible nightmare idea that he fell and was waiting for help that never came. It’s very small comfort, but it is some.”
Civil Guard insist they continued search discreetly
Tenerife’s civil guard insists it had continued its search discreetly, despite having publicly called off the search over two weeks ago.
After 13 days of searching, the Spanish authorities called off the search on June 30, but said they were continuing their investigation.
However upon recovering Jay Slater’s body on Monday, they revealed they had indeed continued an “incessant and discreet” search in which the “natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers”.
Jay Slater’s phone was last located near a stretch of road by the Mirador La Cruz de Hilda, a cafe near the village of Masca with cacti and dense shrubbery on either side, which had made it slow work for helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs to comb through the area.
The body discovered on Monday morning was found by Civil Guard mountain rescue specialists in a “very inaccessible” area, officials said.
Coroner has no found no indication of criminal activity, charity says
Jay Slater’s body should be repatriated to the UK in the coming days, according to a charity supporting his family.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of LBT Global, told The Independent his charity and Mr Slater’s family are “working closely” with Spanish authorities following the autopsy results.
He said: “As the coroner hasn’t found any indication of criminal activity, the body will be released soon and repatriated to the UK. We would expect that to happen in the coming days.”
TikToker fears he may have walked past Jay Slater’s body ‘five or six times’
A TikToker who answered family pleas to join the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife is puzzled by the discovery of his body in an area he believed had been searched thoroughly.
Londoner Callum Fahim scoured the rocky ravines of the Spanish island with a search party just days after the apprentice bricklayer vanished outside a remote Airbnb in Masca.
Mr Fahim spoke to The Independent shortly after a Spanish court said autopsy fingerprinting confirmed the body belongs to the teenager, and said he feared he may have walked past the body “five or six times”.
Stability will be the cornerstone of my Government’s economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal rules. It will legislate to ensure that all significant tax and spending changes are subject to an independent assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility [Budget Responsibility Bill]. Bills will be brought forward to strengthen audit and corporate governance, alongside pension investment [Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill, Pension Schemes Bill].
Securing economic growth will be a fundamental mission. My Government will seek a new partnership with both business and working people and help the country move on from the recent cost of living challenges by prioritising wealth creation for all communities. My Ministers will establish an Industrial Strategy Council.It is my Government’s objective to see rising living standards in all nations and regions in the United Kingdom.
Analysis: It is common now for law and order bills to be named after victims (there is one coming in the speech later), but the budget and responsibility bill ought to be named “Liz’s law”. This is the measure proposed by Rachel Reeves saying that OBR must assess any major fiscal announcement – to prevent a repeat what happened when Liz Truss presented her mini-budget without consulting it. Here is Labour using the legislative process to remind the public of how the Tories mismanaged the economy.
Filters BETA
And now the king is wrapping up.
Members of the House of Commons
Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
Other measures will be laid before you.
I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
Analysis: The speech always ends like this. Public spending and tax are matters for the Commons, not the Lords, and that is why the line about the estimates is only addressed to MPs. The final line, about “other measures”, is the standard reminder that the king’s speech is only a starting point, and that over the next year or so the government is likely to introduce other measures not mentioned here. Normally that is not because they are holding things back, but because the world moves on, circumstances change, and at some point there will be urgent pressure for a new law.
Foreign policy comes right at the end.
My Government will ensure a strong defence based on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s common values of individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Its commitment to NATO will remain unshakeable. It will maintain a strong Armed Forces, including the nuclear deterrent. To ensure that the United Kingdom’s defence capabilities are matched to the changing nature of global strategic threats, my Government will conduct a Strategic Defence Review.
My Government will continue to give its full support to Ukraine and its people and it will endeavour to play a leading role in providing Ukraine with a clear path to NATO membership.
My Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union. My Ministers will seek a new security pact to strengthen cooperation on the mutual threats faced by the United Kingdom and the European Union.
My Government will play its part in trying to secure long term peace and security in the Middle East. It is committed to a two state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
Later this week, my Government will host the European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace. The Queen and I look forward to our Visit to Samoa alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October, and our Visit to Australia.
Analysis: Foreign policy does not need legislation, and so there are no bill referred to in this section. But the king has outlined the government’s headline pitch on key foreign policy issues.
And now it’s constitutional reform.
Measures to modernise the constitution will be introduced including House of Lords reform to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the Lords [House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill]. My ministers will strengthen the integrity of elections and encourage wide participation in the democratic process.
The Government will propose a modernisation committee of the House of Commons which will be tasked with driving up standards, improving work practices and reforming procedures.
Analysis: Labour said it wanted to remove hereditary peers from the Lords quickly. But the speech does not include a commitment to lower the voting age to 16, only a generalised reference to widening participation in elections. This proposal was much criticised during the election, and campaigners will be worried the government is going off the idea. Government sources say that is not the case, and that a bill has been omitted because this is not a priority at this stage of the parliament.
He is now talking about devolution.
My Government will strengthen its work with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland so that the best outcomes possible are delivered for citizens across the United Kingdom. My Ministers will establish a new Council of the Nations and Regions to renew opportunities for the Prime Minister, heads of devolved governments and mayors of combined authorities to collaborate with each other.
My Government will continue to support the political institutions and devolved government in Northern Ireland. In consultation with all parties, measures will be brought forward to begin the process of repealing and replacing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 [Northern Ireland Legacy Legislation].
Analysis: The government wants to repeal the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which gives a partial amnesty to people who commited crimes during the Troubles. But it needs to pass new legislation to do this, so this counts as an extra bill.
The king is getting towards the end now.
My Government will take steps to help rebuild trust and foster respect. Legislation will be brought forward to introduce a duty of candour for public servants [Hillsborough Law]. A Bill will be introduced to establish a statutory Armed Forces Commissioner to act as a strong independent champion for our gallant Armed Forces and their families [Armed Forces Commissioner Bill].
Legislation on race equality will be published in draft to enshrine the full right to equal pay in law [Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill].
Analysis: The government has not said what the Hillsborough law will be called, but it does not just relate to the Hillsborough tragedy. It will impose a duty of candour on civil servants, which means they will have a legal duty to speak out about things going wrong. It is designed to prevent Hillsborough-style cover-ups.
We’re now on health.
My Government will improve the National Health Service as a service for all, providing care on the basis of need regardless of the ability to pay. It will seek to reduce the waiting times, focus on prevention and improve mental health provision for young people. It will ensure mental health is given the same attention and focus as physical health. My ministers will legislate to modernise the Mental Health Act so it is fit for the twenty first century [Mental Health Bill]. A Bill will be introduced to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes [Tobacco and Vapes Bill]. My Ministers will also legislate to restrict advertising of junk food to children along with the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children. A draft Bill will be brought forward to ban conversion practices [Draft Conversion Practices Bill].
Analysis: During the election campaign Rishi Sunak claimed that one of his main achievements was getting support for a bill that would create a smoke-free generation, by gradually raising the age at which people are allowed to buy cigarettes. But he never actually passed his tobacco and vapes bill. Labour will now do it for him.
And renting comes next.
Legislation will be introduced to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes, including ending no fault evictions and reforming grounds for possession [Renters’ Rights Bill]. Draft legislation will be published on leasehold and commonhold reform [Draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill].
A Bill will be introduced to establish an independent football regulator to ensure greater sustainability in the game and strengthen protections for fans [Football Governance Bill].
Analysis: These bills are unfinished business from the last parliament. The Tories promised to abolish no-fault evictions, but the bill that was supposed to do this was watered down, and then abandoned when the election was called. Labour is committed to its own version. It will also pass a version of football governance bill introduced earlier this year, which was also dropped when the election was called. The Tories did pass a Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act, but it did not go as far as campaigners wanted in extending the rights of leaseholders and Labour will now take up the issue.
Now we’re on education.
My Ministers will seek to raise educational standards and break down barriers to opportunity. Action will be taken to get people back in employment following the impact of the pandemic. A Bill will be introduced to raise standards in education and promote children’s wellbeing [Children’s Wellbeing Bill]. Measures will be brought forward to remove the exemption from Value Added Tax for private school fees, which will enable the funding of six and a half thousand new teachers. My Government will establish Skills England which will have a new partnership with employers at its heart [Skills England Bill], and my Ministers will reform the apprenticeship levy.
Analysis: The Labour plan to impose VAT on private school fees was one of the manifesto promises most criticised in pro-Tory newspapers. The king is probably a Times or Telegraph reader, not a Guardian reader, and so he must have seen these stories. He sent his sons to Eton. But what he feels about the policy, we may never know.
Immigration, and crime, come next.
My Government will seek to strengthen the border and make streets safer. A Bill will be introduced to modernise the asylum and immigration system, establishing a new Border Security Command and delivering enhanced counter terror powers to tackle organised immigration crime [Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill]. Legislation will be brought forward to strengthen community policing, give the police greater powers to deal with anti social behaviour and strengthen support for victims [Crime and Policing Bill, Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill].
Measures will be introduced to improve the safety and security of public venues and help keep the British public safe from terrorism [Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill]. My Government will bring forward plans to halve violence against women and girls.
Analysis: The king may appreciate this passage too. The government has said it is abandoning the Rwanda policy, which the king reportedly described as “appalling” (before he succeeded to the throne). This passage refers to the new measures being put in place. But it is not clear if the government will actually repeal the laws passed by the Tories to implement the Rwanda policy, or whether it will just let it sit on the shelf and ignore it. The line about keeping venues safe is a reference to Martyn’s law, which was promised by Rishi Sunak.
The king might appreciate the next bit.
My Government recognises the urgency of the global climate challenge and the new job opportunities that can come from leading the development of the technologies of the future. It is committed to a clean energy transition which will lower energy bills for consumers over time. A Bill will be introduced to set up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power company headquartered in Scotland, which will help accelerate investment in renewable energy such as offshore wind [Great British Energy Bill]. Legislation will be brought forward to help the country achieve energy independence and unlock investment in energy infrastructure. A Bill will be introduced to support sustainable aviation fuel production [Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill]. My Government recognises the need to improve water quality and a Bill will be introduced to strengthen the powers of the water regulator [Water (Special Measures) Bill].
Analysis: The king has taken a lifelong interest in the environment, and he may be pleased to see tackling the climate crisis get a prominent place in the speech. In the past it has tended to get less of a mention.
The king moves on to devolution.
My Government believes that greater devolution of decision making is at the heart of a modern dynamic economy and is a key driver of economic growth and my Ministers will introduce an English Devolution Bill [English Devolution Bill]. Legislation will be introduced to give new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities. This will support local growth plans that bring economic benefit to communities.
A Bill will be introduced to allow local leaders to take control of their local bus services [Better Buses Bill]. My Ministers will bring forward legislation to improve the railways by reforming rail franchising, establishing Great British Railways and bringing train operators into public ownership [Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, Rail Reform Bill].
Taken together these policies will enhance Britain’s position as a leading industrial nation and enable the country to take advantage of new opportunities that can promote growth and wealth creation.
Analysis: Labour wanted to call the English devolution bill the “take back control bill”, because it will give new powers to councils and mayors. Commons officials don’t allow bills to have titles that sound like political slogans, and that is why most of them have neutral, boring names. But for some reason the title “better buses bill” will be allowed. Perhaps that is because officials accepted that some buses services are so poor they could not get any worse?
Next, employment rights.
My Ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high quality infrastructure and housing [Planning and Infrastructure Bill]. They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.
My Government is committed to making work pay and will legislate to introduce a new deal for working people to ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights [Employment Rights Bill]. It will seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models.
Analysis: These are two of the most important bills in the programme. The government has been focusing on planning. (See 9.14am.) Trade unions will be studying what the government says about the employment rights bill closely to ensure that pre-election promises aren’t being watered down.
He starts with the economy.
Stability will be the cornerstone of my Government’s economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal rules. It will legislate to ensure that all significant tax and spending changes are subject to an independent assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility [Budget Responsibility Bill]. Bills will be brought forward to strengthen audit and corporate governance, alongside pension investment [Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill, Pension Schemes Bill].
Securing economic growth will be a fundamental mission. My Government will seek a new partnership with both business and working people and help the country move on from the recent cost of living challenges by prioritising wealth creation for all communities. My Ministers will establish an Industrial Strategy Council.It is my Government’s objective to see rising living standards in all nations and regions in the United Kingdom.
Analysis: It is common now for law and order bills to be named after victims (there is one coming in the speech later), but the budget and responsibility bill ought to be named “Liz’s law”. This is the measure proposed by Rachel Reeves saying that OBR must assess any major fiscal announcement – to prevent a repeat what happened when Liz Truss presented her mini-budget without consulting it. Here is Labour using the legislative process to remind the public of how the Tories mismanaged the economy.
King Charles opens the speech.
(I’m quoting from the text of the speech released to journalists in advance. It includes, in bold, references to the bills the king is referring to.)
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
My Government will govern in service to the country.
My Government’s legislative programme will be mission led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all.
Analysis: The king is not meant to be party political, but the government is allowed to get him to read out a diluted version of its electoral pitch, and here is in part echoing Keir Starmer’s line about putting “country first, party second”. Starmer is also promising a “mission-driven government”.
The lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, presents the king with a copy of his speech.
Black Rod summons MPs, and now they are proceeding to the Lords. Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak walk side by side. It is always interesting to see if the two party leaders appear to be getting on, or if they are glowering at each other. Today it seems quite friendly. Starmer looks as if he’s having a high old time. Sunak was smiling, but perhaps with less sincerity. He can’t be enjoying this much.
In the Lords chamber King Charles has sat down on the throne. Camilla is sitting beside him. He tells peers they can sit down. And Black Rod (Sarah Clarke) sets off for the Commons to summon MPs.
It is not far – the two chambers are much closer than many people realise.
Anti-royalists were protesting as King Charles rode in his carriage to parliament.
In parliament Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, is arriving in the Commons chamber for the start of the ceremony.
London must better prepare for severe floods and heatwaves, a report has warned.
The London Climate Resilience Review, published on Wednesday, called for a "reset moment" for the capital following the general election.
Emma Howard Boyd CBE, chairwoman of the review, said preparing London for more frequent and extreme climate risks was "non-negotiable". The report highlighted opportunities for investment in London but warned that time was running out to act on climate resilience.
A government spokesperson said it welcomed the review and understood the "urgent need" to prepare for and adapt to changes posed by the climate emergency.
It recommended that an official heat plan be created for London to enable the city to better deal with severe floods and heatwaves.
The independent report was commissioned by the Mayor of London and looked at the capital's preparedness for heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, storms, sea level rise and subsidence.
It also found that government and businesses had not adequately planned for the disruption caused when severe weather impacts "cascade" through critical systems such as healthcare, transport, energy and water.
"Climate change is one of the biggest dangers our capital faces, and its effects cannot be ignored," said Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.
"It is essential that we invest in key sectors and prepare our public services so that London can continue to grow and thrive in the face of climate change.
"The review provides clarity and direction on how to do this."
The mayor added: "This is also an issue of social justice as the review makes clear it is Londoners on lower incomes that are most exposed to the impacts of dangerous climate change."
He said he accepted the recommendations made to City Hall and will work to take them forward over the coming months.
PA Media
Key points in the review:
The UK’s ageing population, and particularly people over 65 in care homes, are at the highest risk of heat-related deaths
Labour's plans to build more homes and better infrastructure must include updating resilience and technical standards to cope with weather extremes
London and the whole of the south-east of England needs a new reservoir
The UK government should produce a National Wildfire Strategy and Action Plan by the end of 2025 that reflects the risk of drought on fire suppression
The deadline for upgrading flood defences upstream of the Thames Barrier is 2050, and downstream it is 2040 and a new barrier is needed by 2070
London’s trees, and other green and blue spaces, are under threat from heatwaves, wildfires and windstorms
Around 43% of London properties are likely to be affected by subsidence by 2030
The UK government should create a Strategic Surface Water Authority for London to help with its approach to flooding
Climate change could impact London’s GDP by 2-3% every year by the 2050s, according to initial analysis.
BBC London's transport correspondent Tom Edwards said the report was quite clear that planning and policy strategy needed to consider climate change in all it did.
The publication of the review comes days after the general election, during which the Labour manifesto pledged to improve climate resilience and preparation at a national and local level.
Ms Howard Boyd said: "In 2024, even as El Niño fades, we are set for another record-breaking year of deadly heatwaves, wildfires and storms.
"The health and security of Londoners and the health of the national economy are inseparable.
"This is a reset moment for efforts to increase the UK’s stability in the face of global climate disruption.
"As the new government takes action to end the cost-of-living crisis, protecting the lives and livelihoods of working people from extreme weather is non-negotiable."
Martin Machray, from NHS England London said: "The climate crisis directly impacts our health, wellbeing, and future.
"The increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding, and severe storms is shaping how we deliver healthcare in London.
"This review provides a crucial roadmap for our actions in London and we will work in collaboration with our partners across London to tackle this issue."
Getty Images
Elizabeth Rapoport, chairwoman of the London Surface Water Strategic Group, said that flash flooding from heavy rainfall was a "significant threat" to urban areas both nationally and globally.
She said the group would publish a summary this summer of its planned approach to tackle the issue, followed by a "comprehensive" strategy and implementation plan later in the year.
The government spokesperson also said: "We have a robust plan to improve resilience and preparation for the impacts of climate change across central government, local authorities, local communities, and emergency services.
"The new government is committed to protecting communities in London and across the country from the dangers of flooding.
"That’s why this Government will launch a Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes.”
The review gathered evidence from individuals, communities and organisations including the NHS, Transport for London, London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police, borough councils, the Greater London Authority (GLA), UK government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the financial services sector, sports and cultural institutions and representatives of vulnerable groups.
