New and returning members of Parliament gathered to hear the King’s Speech: a speech written by the government but delivered by the monarch, and which outlines all the proposed new laws which this Parliamentary session will debate.

It was an unfamiliar sight, seeing Labour MPs on the government benches and the Conservatives on those reserved for the opposition.

With the Labour party having secured such a large majority, the government side was heaving: their MPs were not only sitting like sardines on the green benches, but squeezing into the gangways and galleries, and spilling out of the side-doors.

Likewise, benches reserved for the third largest party, now the Liberal Democrats, and others, were over-subscribed.

(Image: Daisy Cooper)

By contrast, the official opposition Conservative benches had spaces to spare. This was a powerful visual reminder not only of the scale of Conservative defeat, but also that the Chamber - designed for a two-party system – is now creaking at the seams with 13 parties now taking their seats.

But the pomp and ceremony of the main event stood in stark contrast to what could be found in the corridors of power: stackable plastic moving boxes, bags of shredding paper, and dog-eared lever-arch files.

Whilst MPs and journalists were seated in the main Chamber, a number of outgoing MPs and their staff took the opportunity to clear out their offices.

In terms of the content of the King’s Speech itself, there were no big surprises: most of what was included had been in the Labour party manifesto.

A few additional bills were laws that the previous Conservative government had tried to introduce, and which enjoyed various levels of cross-party support, but which were abandoned including when the Conservatives called the general election.

Aside from the two biggest parties swapping sides, the biggest change was in the tone of the debate.

Leaders of all major parties were gracious, constructive and responsible – all reiterating their ambition that, whilst democratic debate can be robust, there must be no place for the language and politics of division.

Time, as they say, will tell. But for now, there is a huge sense of relief – and a palpable sense of hope – that after everything the country has been through, and continues to go through, that parts of this Parliament may be able to work constructively together to deliver for the British people.