Buckingham Palace held private conversations with Downing Street about King Charles III's speech at tomorrow's ceremonial State Opening of Parliament, as Sir Keir Starmer battles a leadership crisis that could see him ousted from Number 10, sources have claimed.
The King's advisers conveyed to Government officials their concerns about shielding the monarch from any perception of being drawn into political manoeuvring, according to individuals with knowledge of the discussions.
"The Palace view is 'we do not want to be any part of this conversation, do not bring us into it,'" one source told Politico.
GB News understands that there were no concrete suggestions of cancelling the State Opening of Parliament.
Buckingham Palace has raised private concerns with Downing Street over King Charles's speech, according to sources
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Sir Keir and his supporters have cited Wednesday's ceremony as justification for him remaining in post following devastating local election defeats.
The Prime Minister has also dangled the prospect of bold policy announcements, including the complete nationalisation of British Steel, in the forthcoming address.
Yet whether this legislative agenda will survive remains deeply uncertain, with Labour MPs in open revolt against their leader following poor polling and last week's electoral catastrophe.
"It is very embarrassing for the King that his Government is such a shambles that he has to read out something that may or may not still be the Government's programme by the end of the week," one person familiar with the discussions told the publication.
The Palace has reportedly stressed that while Charles will discharge his constitutional obligations, politicians must resolve their own crisis without involving the crown.
King Charles pictured at the State Opening of Parliament in 2024
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Despite the uncomfortable circumstances, officials informed the Palace that proceeding with the ceremony was constitutionally appropriate.
Without Parliament being formally reconvened, neither MPs nor peers can gather to debate matters, scrutinise ministers or enact legislation.
A senior aide to Charles recently put the question directly to top civil servants, including Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, about whether the King should attend as scheduled.
Discussions involving both the Palace and Sir Keir's office acknowledged to Politico that the ceremony would prove awkward for the monarch this year.
Sir Keir Starmer gave a speech at Coin Street Community Centre on May 11
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The Cabinet Office declined to comment when contacted by GB News, and Downing Street clarified it would not comment on private conversations.
The People's Channel contacted Buckingham Palace for a statement.
GB News understands that, given the King's Speech is given by His Majesty as part of his constitutional role as Head of State, the content of the speech would be a matter for the Government.
In addition, it is understood that there were no concrete suggestions of cancelling the State Opening of Parliament.
The prospect of scaling back the State Opening during periods of political turmoil has been considered before.
King Charles pictured at a garden party at Buckingham Palace today
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Ahead of the 2015 General Election, when pollsters widely anticipated a hung Parliament, contingency arrangements were drawn up to keep Queen Elizabeth II away from Westminster.
Under those plans, the Lord Speaker would have delivered the address instead, with the late Queen only participating once it became clear whether David Cameron or Labour's Ed Miliband could secure Commons support.
Such measures ultimately proved unnecessary after the Conservatives secured an unexpected outright majority.
The traditional pageantry of mounted soldiers, trumpet fanfares and the royal carriage procession proceeded as normal.