Europe

The Queen's Speech To Parliament May Be Delayed Over Stationery

The shape of the current government isn't solid enough yet to be set in stone — or even archival paper.

The Queen's Speech To Parliament May Be Delayed Over Stationery
Getty Images
SMS

Traditionally, the U.K. Parliament starts off every year with a speech by the current monarch, which outlines the direction the ruling party wants to take the government.

But the queen's speech might get delayed this year — and the government says paper is partially why.

Turns out the queen can't just print out her speech on a few sheets of A4. It has to be written on special goatskin paper — which, despite the name, doesn't involve actual goats.

Theresa May Asked The Queen If She Could Form Her Own Government
Theresa May Asked The Queen If She Could Form Her Own Government

Theresa May Asked The Queen If She Could Form Her Own Government

May called for a general election to secure her majority in Parliament, but her party ended up losing 12 seats.

LEARN MORE

The special paper ensures the speech will last longer in Parliament's national archives — but it also means the ink will need a few days to dry.

Normally this isn't a problem because both major parties already know what they want their government to look like. But the surprising election results have forced the ruling Conservative Party to negotiate with a regional party in Northern Ireland to maintain its majority.

Those talks are still going, which means it's too early to start putting a government together on paper — at least, on archival goat paper.