Keir Starmer has officially become Prime Minister after a historic meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, following Labour's landslide election victory. The two shook hands and posed for official photographs in one of the Palace's reception rooms, with Starmer wearing a Labour red tie.
During a private meeting, the King formally asked Starmer to form a government, a constitutional duty as Head of State. Despite being monarch for only two years, Charles has now had three Prime Ministers: Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Starmer. Starmer is the first he has formally asked to form a government in his role as Head of State.
Earlier, outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the Palace for a farewell audience, where he formally tendered his resignation. Sunak's meeting with the King marked the end of his tenure after the Conservative Party's defeat.
Starmer and the King have a warm rapport, having met on numerous occasions. They were seen in deep conversation at a reception before the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2023 and exchanged friendly greetings after the late Queen's death. Starmer has previously praised Charles's social and environmental credentials, calling him a 'devoted servant of this country'.
After the meeting, Starmer was driven down the Mall to Downing Street to address the nation for the first time as Prime Minister. The historic occasion marks a new chapter in British politics, with Labour returning to power after 14 years.
