The Queen is never truly on holiday. Currently at Balmoral Castle, Her Majesty is still receiving her red boxes on a daily basis. And advisors are no doubt keeping her in the loop about the choice of a new Prime Minister.
Though politically neutral, the Queen is the Head of State and does have a role to play once new leaders are elected. The question is, where will The Queen carry out those roles?
Traditionally, a new Prime Minister is formally appointed at Buckingham Palace. Occasionally, the appointment happens at Windsor Castle. But with The Queen’s mobility issues, reports are circulating that she may receive the outgoing and incoming Prime Ministers at Balmoral.
The Queen will not be the first monarch to appoint a new Prime Minister while on holiday. Her great-grandfather, King Edward VII, was vacationing in France when Herbert Henry Asquith unexpectedly became Prime Minister and had to travel to the King for the appointment.
No matter where it happens, the ceremony will be the same. The outgoing Prime Minister, in this case, Boris Johnson, will go to The Queen and officially resign. She will accept his resignation and the two will exchange some parting words. Then the newly elected Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss, will be called to meet the monarch. The Queen will ask the new leader if they are able to form a government. Most of the time the person will say yes; though there have been times when the leader is unsure and will use an exploratory commission and the sovereign and political leader meet at a future date.
Once a new government is formed and the Prime Minister is formally appointed, it is recorded that “the Prime Minister Kissed Hands on Appointment.” “Kissing hands” is only a metaphor for the Prime Minister but for the later meeting of the Privy Council it is a reality. The Queen determines who is in her Privy Council and one of them will kneel before The Queen who extends her hand for a kiss.
The results of the Conservative Party vote which will decide the new Prime Minister will be known on September 5th 2022 with the appointment taking place soon afterwards.
