It was the image that began her reign and it was there that it ended, too. In February 1952, the first glimpse the world had of the new Queen Elizabeth II came as she descended the steps of her aircraft to be greeted by her Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. Seventy years later, the final public appearance of Elizabeth II came at Balmoral, as she appointed a new Prime Minister, Liz Truss. In the intervening years, that relationship between Head of State and Head of Government became vital to her long reign.
Its importance was shown in 1985 in a special event that produced one of the most historic images of her long rule. On 11 December, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended an anniversary dinner at 10 Downing Street.
The dinner marked the 250th anniversary of 10 Downing Street being the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. The then-Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, hosted the event, with The Queen and Prince Philip as the guests of honour.
Thatcher was not the only Prime Minister at the dinner, with all of The Queen’s living former prime ministers attending the evening, as well. Sir Alec Douglas-Hume, Harold Wilson, James Callaghan, Harold Macmillan, and Edward Heath all participated in the event.
Her Majesty had, in total, 15 British prime ministers throughout her reign. Her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill. He was followed by Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Hume, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, and then Boris Johnson. His tenure ended just two days before the close of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. On September 6th 2022, he tendered his resignation at Balmoral before Her Late Majesty went on to appoint Liz Truss as his successor.
Days after that, it would be Liz Truss who stood amongst the Accession Council to hear the official declaration of the death of Elizabeth II who passed away at Balmoral on September 8th 2022. On September 10th 2022, Liz Truss was present as Charles III was officially proclaimed King. That vital relationship between Monarch and Prime Minister was as present at the start of His Majesty’s reign as it had been throughout the long rule of Queen Elizabeth II.
