Buckingham Palace has revealed that one of the most ancient royal traditions has taken place as King Charles carried out a hugely imporotant duty.
On July 20 2026, The King received Andy Burnham at Buckingham Palace and asked him to form a government.
And the Palace has revealed that ”Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment”.
‘Kissing hands” always takes place when the Monarch appoints a new PM. It used to mean just that – the incoming premier would kiss the hand of the Monarch.
Now, it’s believed that a handshake suffices although no one really knows other than The King and the PM.
While photographers capture the moment they meet for the audience, the event itself takes place in private.
It may still be that Andy Burnham, inside the cool enclaves of Buckingham Palace, did in fact bow and kiss the hand of The King after being asked t form a goverment.
Today’s event is one of the most important things that King Charles can do. The Monarch must appoint a PM otherwise there is no government. And while, technically, they are free to choose who to pick, they always follow the will of the people. The Monarch asks the leader of the parliamentary grouping most likely to be able to form a government to do just that.
In Andy Burnham’s case, he finds himself at Buckingham Palace ahead of a move to Number 10 Downing Street after being elected leader of the Labour Party in an unopposed competition. Labour has a huge majority in the House of Commons and so, as their new leader, he is the person most likely to be able to form a government.
King Charles received Andy Burnham after receiving outgoing PM, Sir Keir Starmer, who tendered his resignation. His car swept out of the courtyard of Buckingham Palace and was quickly followed in by Andy Burnham’s vehicle. The change of power took just minutes but without King Charles, it couldn’t happen at all.
The King travelled to London from Highgrove House, the residence in Gloucestershire that he has called home for almost fifty years. It now belongs to the Duchy of Cornwall and so, technically, Charles III leases it from Prince William.
Whether kissing hands took place or not, there was another change to tradition brought in by Charles III. Elizabeth II was always photographed with her new PM bowing or curtseying to her. The King is now seen shaking their hand instead.
