The Queen will break with tradition when appointing a new prime minister
The Queen will not appoint the next prime minister in London, but will instead stay in Balmoral to do it, Buckingham Palace has said.
The new PM and Boris Johnson will go to Scotland, in a break from tradition for the event on 6 September.
During her 70-year-reign the Queen, 96, has had an audience with her new prime minister at Buckingham Palace.
It is understood that the decision was taken to provide certainty for the new prime minister’s diary.
The Queen has suffered from mobility issues and it is understood the change was made to prevent the need for any last-minute rearrangements.
Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak will be announced as leader of the Conservative Party on Monday, 5 September.
Boris Johnson is expected to announce his resignation to the Queen the following day, with his successor appointed by the monarch shortly after.
Buckingham Palace previously said the Queen would interrupt her stay at Balmoral to meet the new prime minister – the 15th of her 70-year reign.
Usually, the outgoing prime minister makes a statement outside Downing Street before taking their final trip as leader to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
The monarch then formally dismisses them from their role.
Shortly after, the incoming PM is called up. When a potential prime minister is called to see the Queen, she will ask them whether they will form a government.
After the new PM has been appointed, the Court Circular will record that “the prime minister kissed hands on appointment”.
This is usually a handshake, and the actual kissing of hands will take place later at the Privy Council.
It is then the new leader’s turn to deliver a speech outside No 10.
Only three weeks ago it was expected that the Queen would travel from her summer break in Balmoral to London to invite the new prime minister to form a government.
But that plan has now been reversed and whoever becomes the 15th prime minister of the Queen’s 70-year reign, their audience will be at the monarch’s Scottish home rather than Buckingham Palace.
The explanation is that taking a decision now provides clarity for planning the new PM’s diary and avoids any last-minute changes, in case the Queen faced a recurrence of her mobility problems next week and couldn’t travel.
It’s likely to prompt concerns about the Queen’s health and raise questions about her wellbeing in recent weeks.
But it also shows the tenacious determination of the 96-year-old monarch to keep carrying out her constitutional duties as head of state, wherever she might be.
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The monarch has been taking her traditional summer break in Scotland with family and guests. She usually stays at the estate from August to October.
As well as ongoing mobility issues in recent months, the Queen had Covid in February this year.
In the past seven months, Buckingham Palace has tended to confirm the Queen’s attendance at public engagements on the day, depending on how she is feeling.
In this time she has missed some high-profile engagements, including the State Opening of Parliament, the Platinum Jubilee Concert and the commemorative Derby.
As head of state, it is the Queen’s duty to appoint the prime minister who leads Her Majesty’s Government.
