Queen's Speech: Ceremony scaled back as Theresa May's legislative agenda unveiled amid uncertainty

Pageantry cut down for first time since 1974 following snap election and Tories' loss of majority

Queen Elizabeth II delivers a prior Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords (PA)

The Queen's Speech is to be scaled back for the first time in decades.

Pageantry will be at a minimum with the Queen arriving at Parliament in a car, rather than her gilded carriage, and unaccompanied by the Household Cavalry.

Nor will she wear ceremonial robes or her weighty crown at the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday morning.

It is the first time since 1974 the speech has been cut down in this way, according to the BBC.

The Household Cavalry has not had enough time to rehearse with its horses, the broadcaster said, because Trooping the Colour took place so recently.

Peers, however, are expected still to wear their ermine robes despite predictions of this week's sweltering heat continuing.

The BBC reported that the speech, setting out what Theresa May hopes to get done in Parliament, will contain eight bills relating to Brexit.

Ms May is expected to propose a cut-down plan for government, after members of her own party said this Queen's Speech would be "her first and last".

But she still lacks a Parliamentary majority to ensure the plan passes a vote on Thursday.

The speech had been postponed due to the chaos following the 8 June election and problems Ms May has had securing the support of the DUP in the Commons.