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  • Boris Johnson tries and fails to engage Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in small talk as they walk to watch the Queen's Speech.
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  • The leaders of the UK's two biggest parties traditionally walk side-by-side into the chamber before the Queen's speech.
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  • Relations between the two men are particularly bad, with Johnson recently calling for Corbyn to be blasted into space.
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  • Today's speech was particularly controversial, with constitutional experts accusing Johnson of using it to force the Queen to deliver a "party political broadcast."
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  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn had a rather awkward conversation on Monday as they walked into the House of Lords to watch the Queen deliver her Queen's Speech.

The leaders of the two biggest political parties traditionally walk side-by-side into the chamber in order to watch the monarch set out the legislative programme of her government.

In footage of the moment, Labour party leader Corbyn can be seen looking straight ahead as the prime minister tries, and apparently fails, to engage him in small talk.

Today's Queen's Speech was mired in controversy following allegations that the timing of Johnson's speech had effectively turned it into a "party political broadcast" for his Conservative party.

Read more: Boris Johnson's relationship with the Queen hits 'rock bottom' as he is accused of forcing her to deliver a 'party political broadcast' for the Conservative Party

The row has led to reports that relations between the prime minister and the Queen are now at "rock bottom."

Watch Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn's awkward chat

-Julian Druker (@Julian5News) October 14, 2019

Relations between Johnson and Corbyn have so far been noticeably worse than those between previous leaders, some of whom have gone on to develop relatively close relationships after leaving office.

Johnson has been particularly outspoken in his condemnation of Corbyn.

In his recent speech at Conservative party conference, Johnson referred to Corbyn as a "Marxist" and an "anti-Semite" who should be blasted into space.

"Figuratively, if not literally, let us send Jeremy Corbyn into orbit where he belongs," he told supporters.

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