Queen outlines UK government agenda in scaled-down speech

London: Queen Elizabeth II will outline the government's upcoming legislative program with far less pageantry than usual in a speech expected to be dominated by discussion of Britain's upcoming departure from the European Union.

The program set out in the so-called Queen's Speech at Wednesday's state opening of Parliament will include "a number of bills" intended to make Brexit successful.

Prime Theresa May has promised to work with "humility and resolve" in delivering her agenda. The promise follows a snap election in which May lost her majority.

For the first time in decades, the government goes into the ceremonial event uncertain whether it can avoid defeat on its agenda.

Signaling the importance of Brexit, the queen will set out plans not for the usual one year, but for two years.