Addresses to Members of Parliament

State visits or visits by other leading figures are often marked by a speech given to Members of both Houses of Parliament.

State visit of the President of Ireland 2014

President Michael D. Higgins addressed members of both Houses in the Royal Gallery on Tuesday 8 April. It was the first time an Irish head of state has addressed the UK Parliament.

Angela Merkel address 2014

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed members of both Houses in the Royal Gallery on Thursday 27 February 2014.

Aung San Suu Kyi address 2012

Nobel peace prize winner and newly elected parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi addressed members of both Houses in Westminster Hall on Thursday 21 June during her visit to the UK.

State visit of the President of the USA 2011

As part of his State visit to the UK on 24-26 May 2011, President Barack Obama addressed members of both Houses on Wednesday 25 May.

Papal address 2010

On Friday 17 September 2010, as part of his official visit to the UK, Pope Benedict XVI addressed an audience of invited guests in Westminster Hall that included members of both Houses of Parliament, diplomats and representatives of civic society.

Recent addresses

October 2018: King and Queen of Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima

July 2017: King and Queen of Spain, King Felipe VI and Queen Letitzia

November 2016: President of the Republic of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos Calderon

April 2016: President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo

October 2015: President of China, Xi Jinping

March 2015: President of the United Mexican States, Enrique Peña

October 2014: President of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam

November 2013: President of the Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye

June 2013: Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper

November 2012: President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

November 2012: The Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Other notable addresses

On 15 May 2007, Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach of Ireland, addressed 500 Members of Parliament in the Royal Gallery to commemorate the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland. It was the first time that an Irish Prime Minister had addressed members of both Houses.

Nelson Mandela, François Mitterand, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama are among those who have all given addresses to MPs and members of the Lords.

Can I attend an address?

The public cannot gain access to addresses made to Members of Parliament. However, details about addresses will be posted on this webpage.

Image: House of Lords 2018 / Photography by Annabel Moeller

Related information

State visits on Flickr

View images of the Papal address in Westminster Hall and of Presidents of Mexico and France addressing MPs and Members of the Lords on Parliament's Flickr channel:

Visit the venues

View the Royal Gallery and Robing Room – the key locations for addresses to Parliament – in our virtual tour: