Special Parliament sitting to honour Queen today with Liz Truss to lead heartfelt tributes

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In this video grab taken from footage broadcast by the UK Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) via the Parliament TV website on September 8, 2022, packed benches in the Commons chamber listen as Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss opens a debate on UK Energy costs in the House of Commons in central London. - New British Prime Minister is expected to unveil a costly plan to freeze domestic fuel bills to help ease the burden of a soaring cost-of-living crisis. (Photo by PRU / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS (Photo by -/PRU/AFP via Getty Images)

THE Commons and Lords will sit today for a special session where MPs and peers can pay tribute to the Queen.

Liz Truss will lead the tributes in the Commons, which begin at midday and will continue through to 10pm. 

MPs will gather in the Commons chamber today to deliver heartfelt tributes to Her Majesty

Queen Elizabeth delivering a speech from the throne in House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament in May 2021

The PM is then expected to meet King Charles some time this afternoon. 

Tomorrow Parliament will open again too, with senior MPs swearing allegiance to the new King.

Further tributes will made before a formal humble address to the King expressing the deep sympathy of the House then takes place.

Yesterday in Parliament MPs cried and embraced as news of Her Majesty’s death was delivered through televisions and radios across Westminster. 

Last night the new PM, who was only appointed by the late monarch on Tuesday, addressed the nation in a heartfelt message.

Ms Truss was the 96-year-old Queen’s 15th and final PM of her record 70-year reign.

She said the nation would “come together” now to support each other and remember her after the “devastating” news.

And she also revealed the new monarch would be referred to as King Charles III, ending her speech with the words not heard by a PM for 70 years: “God save the King”.

As the nation enters a period of mourning, the government and PM will not be able to make any major announcements for the next ten days.

Visits, press releases and new policy announcements will all be binned, like in an election period.

But Parliament might sit for an extra day or two during the mourning period so that emergency legislation on the PM’s new energy price plan can be voted through.