King Charles ‘faces problem’ as general election date clashes with key occasion - Cameron Walker

King Charles ‘faces problem’ as general election date clashes with key occasion - Cameron Walker

King Charles ‘faces problem’ as general election date clashes with key occasion

GB News
Gabrielle Wilde

By Gabrielle Wilde


Published: 22/05/2024

- 18:36

Rishi Sunak met with the King earlier today to request a July 4 election

The King "faces a problem" with his diary after Rishi Sunak called for a general election earlier today, claims GB News royal reporter Cameron Walker.

The Prime Minister made a statement today outside 10 Downing Street, where he said: "Earlier today I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of Parliament.


“The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on July 4."

However, this could cause some problems for the monarch as he is scheduled to be in Edinburgh during the election period.

Martin Daubney, Cameron Walker

Cameron Walker said the King now has a clash in his diary

GB News

Speaking on GB News Walker said: "The King has had an incredibly busy diary today, but he's had to find time in his diary to carry out one of his most important constitutional duties.

"He spoke to the Prime Minister, as the Prime Minister confirmed in Downing Street earlier today, and he asked his permission to hold a general election and dissolve parliament.

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"The King has granted that permission and every seat in the House of Commons is now vacant. Any bill that the King has not already given royal assent to will not become law in this parliamentary session."

He added: "That is an issue for the King, potentially, because the July 4 falls within Holyrood Week or in other words, Royal Week.

"This is where the King is in Scotland, taking part in the traditional week of royal engagements there. On the July 2, he is due to hold a garden party at the Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh.

"So in theory this does mean that the King is going to have to cut short his week in Edinburgh to potentially come back down to London, ready for the day after the general election on July 5 to appoint the Prime Minister."

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak announced the date for the election earlier today

PA

He added: "Usually that would happen in Buckingham Palace, which makes me think that the King's diary is going to have to be shifted around somewhat."

The Royal Family have also announced that engagements are postponed and apologised to all those affected.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson has said: “Following the Prime Minister’s statement this afternoon calling a General Election, The Royal Family will – in accordance with normal procedure – postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”

King Charles

King Charles may have to move his diary around

PA

The King and Queen’s D-Day 80th anniversary appearances in Portsmouth and Normandy in June are expected to go ahead as scheduled, but the announcement of a July 4 vote disrupted other events in the carefully planned forthcoming royal diaries.

The King's first prime minister was Liz Truss – but her stint in charge was the shortest in British history – and the King welcomed Sunak as his second PM just six weeks after acceding to the throne.

Sunak met with the King at Buckingham Palace this afternoon, directly after the King hosted young winners of the Prince's Trust Awards.

The pair met for approximately 15 minutes in the King's usual private audience room as part of the Prime Minister's scheduled weekly audience.

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