When the King greeted Keir Starmer last Friday, his first words to him were: ‘You must be utterly exhausted and nearly on your knees’, to which the new Prime Minister replied: ‘Not much sleep.’ From the body language and easy rapport between the two men, most inferred that this was a relationship that was likely to be a productive and enjoyable one on both sides. This is quite the turnaround from Starmer having said in 2005, ‘I also got made a Queen’s Counsel, which is odd, since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy.’
Starmer has since rowed back from his republican views, without wholly disavowing them; his meetings with King Charles will now become a weekly tradition. Most Wednesdays, if the Prime Minister or monarch is not absent on business – as is the case this week – the two men have an audience, without any courtiers or special advisers present.
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