King’s role appointing prime minister as country goes to polls

Charles is set to invite the leader of the party with an overall majority of Commons seats to form a government at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

It is the King’s duty as head of state to appoint a prime minister.

The role is one of the few remaining personal prerogatives of the sovereign – Charles does not act on advice nor need to consult anyone before doing so.

But the overriding requirement is to appoint someone who can command the confidence of the House of Commons – usually the leader of the party with an overall majority of seats in the Commons – to form a government.

The King in his robe and ostrich-plumed hat arrives for the Order of the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on July 3 — The King has spent the past few days in Edinburgh carrying out engagements during Holyrood Week (Jane Barlow/PA)

Charles could be set for the third prime minister of his reign, if Sir Keir Starmer leads the Labour Party to victory.

His first was Liz Truss – but her stint in charge was the shortest in British history – and the King welcomed Rishi Sunak as his second PM just six weeks after acceding to the throne.

The King speaks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (second right) as Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle (left) looks on during his visit to Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster to attend a reception ahead of the coronation in May 2023 — The King with Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA)

It will be the first time he has appointed a prime minister following a General Election, and the major constitutional duty comes as he continues apace despite his treatment for cancer.

Depending on the election outcome, Charles is set to hold a private audience with the leader of the winning party at Buckingham Palace in London on Friday, the day after the country goes to the polls.

They will be invited by the King to form a government and become prime minister.

The King shaking hands with Rishi Sunak in October 2022 where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government — The King shakes hands with Rishi Sunak in 2022 as he invites him to become Prime Minister as the Conservatives’ new leader (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Court Circular, the official record of royal engagements which is published the next day, will record that the politician was requested to form “a new administration” and “kissed hands on appointment” as “Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury”.

The kissing of hands is usually just a handshake, with the actual kissing of hands taking place later at a Privy Council meeting.

Any outgoing prime minister will travel to the Palace shortly beforehand to formally tender their resignation in an audience with the King.

The then-PM Tony Blair, accompanied by wife Cherie greeted by the late Queen’s Lady in Waiting, Lady Hussey, and equerry Heber Ackland as he arrived to tender his resignation — Then-PM Tony Blair, accompanied by wife Cherie, is greeted by the late Queen’s Lady in Waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, and equerry Heber Ackland as he arrives to tender his resignation in 2007 (Fiona Hanson/PA)

In two weeks’ time, the King will be required to carry out the State Opening of Parliament on July 17 – which is also the Queen’s 77th birthday.

He will deliver the King’s Speech, setting out the new Government’s agenda for the coming session, outlining proposed policies and legislation.

The monarch traditionally wears the Imperial State Crown and Robe of State and travels in a carriage procession from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords for the major ceremonial event, with Camilla at his side.

The King in his crown sits besides Queen Camilla during the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London in 2023 — The King and Queen at the State Opening of Parliament in 2023 (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

The King is a constitutional monarch who must remain politically neutral.

He will not be casting his own vote at the ballot box.

Although UK law does not ban royalty from voting, it is considered unconstitutional, so the sovereign does not vote.

General Election campaign 2024 — It is considered unconstitutional for the monarch to vote (Yui Mok/PA)

The royal family postponed engagements “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign” after Mr Sunak called a surprise summer election.

One of Queen Elizabeth II’s last duties, two days before she died, was to appoint Ms Truss as prime minister at Balmoral.

It was the first time the Queen, who had mobility issues, had carried out the key duty at her Scottish retreat rather than at Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral welcoming Liz Truss to become Prime Minister in September 2022 — The late Queen at an audience in Balmoral Castle with Liz Truss, where she invited her to become prime minister and form a government (Jane Barlow/PA)

Winston Churchill – with whom she had a close friendship – was her first, and Ms Truss her last.