BRITAIN’S new PM will start work while flying back from Scotland after being sworn in by the Queen at Balmoral.
Yesterday’s official announcement confirmed Trending In The News’s story that Her Majesty will hold the historic ceremony at her Scottish retreat — raising fresh fears for her health.
Britain’s new PM will start work while flying back from Scotland after being sworn in by the Queen at Balmoral
Boris Johnson is due to address the nation for the final time as PM early on Tuesday morning
Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak could use the 90-minute flight back to London to tackle urgent first duties including writing letters of last resort for nuclear submarine captains
Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak could use the 90-minute flight back to London to tackle urgent first duties including writing letters of last resort for nuclear submarine captains.
Buckingham Palace blamed the 96-year-old royal’s “episodic mobility problems” for the break with tradition.
Sources close to the Queen insisted the decision was made this week and announced yesterday to help with the travel plans of both the incoming and outgoing prime ministers.
But Trending In The News understands those close to Her Majesty advised her last week not to make the 1,000-mile round trip.
A source said: “Decisions aren’t made overnight. This has been planned for a while.”
The official announcement has sparked fresh health worries and the Queen is now not expected to appear at this Saturday’s annual Highland Games at Braemar in Aberdeenshire.
Either Ms Truss or Mr Sunak will be announced as leader of the Conservative Party on Monday.
Boris Johnson is due to address the nation for the final time as PM early on Tuesday morning before using his ministerial jet to fly to Aberdeen airport.
He is expected to then announce his resignation to the Queen, with his successor appointed by the monarch shortly afterwards.
The new PM will fly back to London on the official plane arriving at Downing Street in time for a speech at 4pm. It is thought senior officials will travel with Mr Johnson to greet his successor at Balmoral.
Once back in London the new PM will begin a Cabinet reshuffle.
The new top team of ministers will meet at 9am on Wednesday before the PM goes head to head with Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer in their first Commons clash at noon.
Mr Johnson will have to make his own way back from Scotland.
Aides are now trying to work out which room at Balmoral will be used for the “kissing hands” ceremony.
The traditional power transition has not happened there in more than 120 years since the reign of Queen Victoria.
The Queen kissed hands with her first PM Winston Churchill in 1952 at Heathrow after returning from Africa following the death of her father King George VI.
Tory PM Harold Macmillan stepped down after major surgery in 1963 and the Queen visited him at King Edward VII hospital, London, to take his resignation.
His replacement, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, and every PM since was sworn in at Buckingham Palace.
Liberal PM HH Asquith was sworn in by Edward VII at a hotel in Biarritz, France, in 1908 while the king was on holiday.
Queen Victoria also carried out ceremonies at Osborne House, Isle of Wight.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen would carry out Privy Council duties virtually on Wednesday.
She is expected to remain at Balmoral, where a wheelchair-friendly lift has been put in, until October.
Trending In The News understands those close to Her Majesty advised her last week not to make the 1,000-mile round trip from Balmoral to Windsor
The new PM will fly back to London on the official plane arriving at Downing Street in time for a speech at 4pm
