The Labour Party’s victory in Britain’s general election has ushered in a new era, with Keir Starmer poised to become Prime Minister. However, his official appointment won’t occur until Friday, during a carefully choreographed ceremony where King Charles III will formally ask him to form a new government. This moment embodies the enduring role of the monarchy in modern Britain, a constitutional monarchy where the King’s power is strictly limited by law and tradition. While the Prime Minister is elected by the people, the monarch’s role in the process harkens back to a time when the King held supreme power and chose his Prime Minister.
This ceremony, steeped in history, reflects Britain’s evolution from a time when the monarch held supreme power to a parliamentary democracy where the Prime Minister is elected by the people. Professor Anna Whitelock, a historian of the monarchy at London’s City University, explains that this tradition reflects the country’s historic past and its current system of government. “It reflects our historic past and it reflects the fact that we do have a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy, and the prime minister and the monarch therefore work hand in glove,” she said. “Both of them have a key role in the Constitution. And we see that enacted, on the day where a prime minister formally takes up his position.”
The ceremony will take place at Buckingham Palace. First, outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will tender his resignation to the King. Then, Starmer will arrive for his first audience with Charles. During the brief period between the outgoing Prime Minister’s departure and the incoming Prime Minister’s appointment, power technically resides with the monarch, creating a symbolic “vacuum” in parliamentary democracy, according to Whitelock.
The ceremony, known as the “Kissing of Hands,” will involve the King asking Starmer to form a government. Starmer will then bow and shake Charles’ hand, marking the official transfer of power. The event will be captured in a photograph, documenting this historic moment.
Outside the palace gates, a flurry of activity will be unfolding, with news helicopters following Starmer and Sunak’s cars and commentators eagerly speculating on the proceedings. Traditionally, the new Prime Minister will then return to Downing Street in a ministerial car, where he will make a statement and receive the applause of staff as he enters 10 Downing Street and commences his duties.
Sunak’s departure will be a swift one. Following his defeat at the polls, he will vacate the Prime Minister’s official residence before Starmer’s arrival just a few hours later. After tendering his resignation, Sunak will leave the palace in a private vehicle and return to his private residence. The transition will be so rapid that the moving van for the outgoing leader will likely be positioned near Downing Street’s back door as the new leader takes his bow out front.
This royal choreography serves as a symbol of stability and continuity amidst the political turmoil that often defines British society. The King, who stands above the political fray, remains a figure of authority, even as Prime Ministers come and go. As George Gross, a royal expert at King’s College London, points out, the monarchy provides a sense of stability amidst political change. “Everyone will say, Well, this is all the ceremonial bit,’ but it’s a really important part of the fact that governments can change in the U.K., and we don’t do riots,” said Gross. “Maybe that didn’t need to be said before, but in the context of the current political world and geopolitics, I think that is really healthy.”
Queen Elizabeth II, during her 70-year reign, served with 15 Prime Ministers. Charles, who has been on the throne for less than two years, will be welcoming his second. This emphasizes the monarchy’s enduring role as a symbol of continuity in a world where political power shifts frequently.
The King’s role extends beyond ceremonial occasions. He holds weekly meetings with the Prime Minister to discuss government matters. While the monarch is politically neutral, he retains the right to “advise and warn” the Prime Minister if deemed necessary. These meetings are confidential and the subjects discussed remain private.
Later this month, the King will return to the public stage for another significant event: the state opening of Parliament. The monarch will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage, take his seat on the Sovereign’s Throne in the House of Lords, and wear the Imperial State Crown. In a joint meeting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, he will deliver a speech, written by the incoming government, outlining its legislative program.
This event, while steeped in pageantry, exemplifies the monarchy’s enduring role in modern Britain. The King, while politically neutral, remains a central figure in the country’s political landscape, embodying continuity and stability amidst change.
