Royal Family announces engagements postponed and apologise to all those affected

Royal Family announces engagements postponed and apologise to all those affected

Watch: Cameron Walker discuss the King granting the Prime Minister's request to dissolve Parliament

GB News
Hannah Ross

By Hannah Ross


Published: 22/05/2024

- 18:13

Updated: 22/05/2024

- 19:48

The Prime Minister announced that the next UK general election will be held on July 4

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

A spokesperson for the palace said that engagements will be postponed following the Prime Minister's statement calling for a general election.


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

The Royal Family have postponed all engagements following Sunak's announcement

Getty

The statement said engagements that "may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign" will be cancelled.

However, GB News Royal correspondent Cameron Walker said on X: "I understand D-Day memorial engagements will go ahead, but others will be reviewed on case by case basis."

Cameron Walker also confirmed that all of King’s public engagements will be postponed for the rest of this week.

It is "normal procedure" for the Royal Family to cancel engagements when a general election is held to keep attention directed at the election campaign.

On Wednesday afternoon, Rishi Sunak announced a July 4 general election while delivering a statement outside Downing Street.

King CharlesA statement from the palace said that engagements would be postponed which may "distract from the election campaign"Getty

Earlier today, the Prime Minister asked the King to proclaim the Dissolution of Parliament and the monarch complied with the request.

In a statement, Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister has today asked His Majesty The King to proclaim the Dissolution of Parliament. His Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify that he will comply with this request.

“Parliament will be prorogued on Friday May 24. Dissolution will take place on Thursday May 30. The General Election will take place on Thursday July 4.

"The new Parliament will be summoned to meet on Tuesday July 9, when the first business will be the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of members, and the State Opening will be on Wednesday July 17.”

Rishi SunakRishi Sunak announced the next UK general election is to be held on July 4PA

King Charles is set to travel abroad for the first time since his cancer diagnosis in June for D-Day celebrations.

Buckingham Palace confirmed last week that the monarch will participate in commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day alongside Camilla and Prince William.

The monarch will travel to Normandy, France for events marking the landings in 1944 during World War Two.

Before travelling to France, the King, Queen and Prince of Wales will attend a ceremony in Portsmouth on June 5.

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