New Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been filmed meeting King Charles during a handover of power at Buckingham Palace following Labour’s landslide victory at the General Election
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The King’s audience with Keir Starmer as he requests to form a new administration
Footage shows Sir Keir Starmer greeting the King after Labour’s landslide General Election victory.
The Labour leader is now the third Prime Minister of Charles’ reign and he chatted with the monarch at Buckingham Palace during a well choreographed series of meetings, ensuring the smooth handover of power. Rishi Sunak called the election with rain pouring down outside 10 Downing Street and the weather appeared to play its part for the new Prime Minister with sun coming out as he arrived with his wife Lady Starmer to see the King.
He was driven to The King’s Door where he was met by Sir Clive Alderton, Principal Private Secretary to The King and Queen, and Commander William Thornton, Royal Navy, Equerry to The King. A heavy shower had fallen just before Sir Keir arrived and as he stepped from his car the sun broke through, and he appeared to reference the turn in the weather as Sir Clive looked to the heavens and replied: “How about that?”
“Sir Keir had a private Audience of The King who invited him to form a new Administration, which Sir Keir accepted,” stated Buckingham Palace. It said the Labour leader “kissed hands” with the King on his appointment as Prime Minister – but in reality the historic term is believed to refer to a handshake.
Lady Starmer joined the two men towards the end of their meeting that lasted around 20 minutes, and at its conclusion the Prime Minister and his wife headed to their new home in Downing Street. Their historic meeting saw Sir Keir follow Mr Sunak and Liz Truss to become the head of state’s third prime minister.
Earlier, Mr Sunak was joined by his wife Akshata Murty for his final audience with the King as he resigned as prime minister and recommended the Labour leader be invited to form a new Government. When he first arrived for the meeting, which lasted around 30 minutes, Mr Sunak exchanged a few words with Sir Clive Alderton, and appeared to joke about his favourite meal.
He told the King and Queen’s principal private secretary: “I’ve been eating plenty of sandwiches on the road.” Mr Sunak had told ITV ’s This Morning earlier this week: “Well, my favourite meal generally is sandwiches. You know, I’m a big sandwich person.” The politician and his spouse left privately, but waiting outside were dozens of spectators who held up camera phones to record their departure.
