She was wearing the kind of hat that could stop traffic — but the cars in Hamilton had already been diverted to allow Premier Paula Cox to make her way to the Cabinet Office lawn yesterday.

The Island's new leader, decked out in bold electric blue and silver, crossed Reid Street on the arm of Opposition leader Kim Swan as they made their way from the House of Assembly to listen to Governor Sir Richard Gozney read this year's Throne Speech — Ms Cox's first as Premier.

The two rival politicians — she in a shimmering skirt suit, he in traditional top hat and tails — made a striking pair as they moved briskly across the road to rapturous applause from the gathered crowd.

Then, followed by Cabinet Ministers and MPs, it was straight to the large marquee set up on the grass to hear Sir Richard deliver Government's vision for the coming year.

The Premier sat with Speaker Stanley Lowe — who told her she looked stunning as they left Sessions House — and listened silently as the Governor spoke, paving the way for the new parliamentary session to begin.

Although she knew exactly what was coming, having decided on the contents of the speech herself for the first time, Ms Cox looked to be paying close attention as her ideas and initiatives were unveiled.

There was a smile for clapping onlookers as she headed out of the tent after Sir Richard ended his speech with the words: "I declare this session open and may God grant you wisdom in your deliberations."

Back in the House, Ms Cox took her seat in the Premier's chair in the centre of the front row on Government's side of the chamber — and lowered her head as she began pounding her BlackBerry.

The Finance Minister has repeatedly said it won't be business as usual now she's in charge — but anyone who ever watched her in the House as Deputy Premier will be used to seeing her listening to the debate and working on her phone simultaneously.

Her first short session in the House as Premier was uneventful and Ms Cox had little to do other than table a few items of business.

But later, she had much to say at a press conference with her new Cabinet. After she and her Ministers summed up their new responsibilities and plans for 2010/2011, the floor was opened to journalists for questions.

Ms Cox jumped in before the first one was asked, with praise for her new team, describing how each one had responded to her request to become Minister.

She looked confident and at ease as she joked about their various idiosyncrasies — meanwhile, that magnificent hat stayed on the whole time.