Watch: The King tells Starmer he must be ‘utterly exhausted’
The King said Sir Keir Starmer, the new Prime Minister, must be “utterly exhausted” and “on his knees” as the pair met at Buckingham Palace on Friday morning after Thursday night’s general election.
Sir Keir arrived at the palace just before midday and was met at the King’s entrance by Sir Clive Alderton, the monarch’s private secretary.
He and his wife, Lady Starmer, made their way upstairs to the Audience Room on the first floor, where the King was waiting to invite him to form a government.
Sir Keir entered the room as the leader of the Labour Party and left it as the Prime Minister.
“Sir Keir Starmer, Your Majesty,” said an equerry. “Your Majesty,” said the politician as he took the monarch’s outstretched hand and slightly dipped his head.
The King made a reference to Sir Keir’s long night as he said: “You must be utterly exhausted and on your knees by now.” Sir Keir replied: “Not much sleep.”
“Quite a gruelling campaign by the sound of it,” the King added. “Anyway, you’re here.”
The two then sat down together, briefly chatting about the speed at which one prime minister was ousted and the next installed.
“It’s a very, sort of, quick changeover,” Sir Keir told the monarch, prompting the King to chuckle as he replied: “To say the least… and having to get to grips with everything straight away must be quite exhausting.” Sir Keir replied: “Yes.”
On leaving the palace, Sir Keir will have been addressed as “Prime Minister”. Margaret Thatcher’s husband, Denis, once noted that the guards on duty at the palace saluted as he and the new prime minister left, having not done so when they arrived.
There was little time for rest overnight as the general election candidates awaited news of their fate. At 2.58am, it was confirmed that Sir Keir had held his London seat of Holborn and St Pancras.
Addressing party workers and supporters gathered at the counting hall, he said: “Tonight, people here and around the country have spoken and they’re ready for change – to end the politics of performance and return to politics as public service.”
At 5am, he delivered a speech at a victory rally in central London to rapturous applause, saying: “We did it. You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it, and now it has arrived – change begins now.”
Sir Keir is the King’s third prime minister, following in the footsteps of Liz Truss – who lost her seat at the election – and Rishi Sunak.
Like his predecessors, he will meet the King at the palace for a weekly private audience every Wednesday.
