BBC's Paul Rowley: "There'll be changes to the ancient ceremony"

The speech will also include plans for major welfare reform, fairness at work, changes to the health service, and the lowering of the gay age of consent to match that of heterosexuals.

The government's programme is understood to have been slimmed down to take into account the likelihood of Lords objections to some bills - notably that leading to the extinction of the hereditaries - eating into legislative time.

Margaret Beckett: "Speech will reflect government's priorities"

Leader of the Commons Margaret Beckett insisted nothing had been ditched from the speech in order to make way for Lords reform.

Shortly before the State Opening of Parliament, at which the Queen delivers the speech, Mrs Beckett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it would "reflect the government's priorities" as whole.

But giving more than 700 hereditary peers their marching orders is likely to be the biggest single measure contained in the speech, one of the highlights of the parliamentary year.

Despite being a Labour manifesto pledge, abolishing hereditary peers' voting rights is likely to provoke another bitter fight between Lords and Commons similar to the recent battle over the European Elections Bill, which peers blocked.

Speaking out: The Queen will outline plans to give hereditary peers their marching orders

Many hereditary peers acknowledge that their role as legislators is an anachronism but are unwilling to consign themselves to the pages of history until they know what will replace them.

The government is yet to make plain its plans for the second stage of Lords reform, saying instead that abolishing hereditary peers will stand as a single self contained move independent of future action.

BBC Chief Political Correspondent Robin Oakley: The biggest row will be over Lords reform

The Conservative response has been to say this will make the Lords a giant unelected quango, and warn that Labour may drag its heels for years before getting round to implementing a second stage.

In the meantime a Royal Commission will examine possible options for a fully reformed upper house.

Welfare reform, another controversial issue which has previously provoked Labour backbench rebellions, is also expected to feature heavily.

Jobseekers will be required to attend interviews

Government proposals are thought to include moves to ensure all jobseekers attend interviews and changes to the way benefits are paid to the long-term sick and disabled.

Labour will also detail plans to make good its pledge to scrap the National Health Service's internal market set up by the Tories as well as GP fund holding.

The government is also expected to bring in a bill to equalise the age of gay consent with that of heterosexuals. A bill introduced earlier this year reduced the gay of consent but failed to bring in full equality.

But any bill is expected to include restrictions on gay relationships between people in positions of power over young adults in their care.

Also expected is the reform of the criminal justice system to speed up the punishment of young offenders.

But there are several notable omissions to the government's bill of fare for the coming year.

It is thought there will be no freedom of information bill - a Labour manifesto commitment - until later in the parliament.