Queen: We sank the Armada, we can sink some P2P pirates!

Yesterday at 11:30am, the Queen made her way to Parliament in a coach, entered the robing room to receive her crown, then followed someone known as the "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod" to the door House of Commons. The Gentlemen Usher banged thrice upon the door with his black rod, was allowed to enter, and headed to the Table of the House to "announce the Queen's summons." The Queen, seated on her throne, then open Parliament with her customary speech.

Though it sounds like something straight out of the 1570s, this is pomp and circumstance, 21st century style. The ritual opening of the Parliament was tweeted on the official "ukparliament" account, transcripts went up immediately on the Web, an official Flickr photo set captured the magic—and the Queen's speech made clear that legislative action against Internet file-swappers would be coming, and soon.