Queen Elizabeth has outlined the government's legislative program in a speech to Parliament after the prime minister slimmed down her plans and promised "humility" in negotiating Britain's exit from the European Union following a disastrous election that cost the ruling Conservative Party its majority.

The queen carried with her royal duties at the ceremonial opening of the new Parliament despite the announcement that her husband, Prince Philip, has been hospitalised. Buckingham Palace said Philip, 96, was admitted a hospital as a precaution for treatment of an infection.

His rare absence from the State Opening of Parliament added to the solemnity of an occasion cherished by the British people and replete with historical tradition. While the queen reads the Queen's Speech to lawmakers, it is written by the prime minister and her staff and offers a broad brush of goals for the future.

Eight of 27 bills outlined in the speech deal with the complex process of Brexit. It's also notable that May omitted several controversial policies touted in the Conservative election campaign, including plans to change funding for the care of older people, which opponents dubbed the "dementia tax."

There was also no mention of President Donald Trump's invitation for a state visit, which sparked criticism from all parties.

Even before news of Prince Philip's illness, the government had announced that the speech would be delivered with less pageantry than normal a result of the timing of the snap election.