King Charles Breaks a Major Royal Tradition While Welcoming the New Prime Minister

An audience with the monarch is a crucial constitutional event in British politics, traditionally taking place directly after a Prime Minister steps down.

King Charles III has seen the UK government change four times since ascending the throne in 2022. Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned shortly after his accession, with Rishi Sunak succeeding her in October 2022. Sir Keir Starmer, representing the center-left Labour Party, then took office in 2024. Starmer’s resignation was formally accepted by the King today, after which the Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham was officially declared the new Prime Minister following an audience with His Majesty. However, this historic meeting was marked by a notable departure from long-standing royal protocols and traditions.

According to Royal Central, the appointment ceremony for a new Prime Minister is historically known as the "kissing of hands." In this centuries-old tradition, senior ministers and officeholders were expected to physically kiss the monarch's hand as a gesture of loyalty and fidelity to the Crown. By the twentieth century, however, the ceremony became purely symbolic, evolving into a simple handshake between the new Prime Minister and the monarch, even though the historic term remains in official use.

Adhering to modern custom, King Charles shook hands with Burnham rather than observing the literal historical ritual before authorizing him to form a government. This audience represents a vital constitutional step in British politics following a Prime Minister's resignation, as the monarch officially invites the politician capable of commanding the confidence of the House of Commons to form a government.

Once the invitation is accepted, the individual officially becomes Prime Minister. Following a brief, private audience, an official photograph of the monarch greeting the new Prime Minister is released before they proceed to 10 Downing Street to form their government. Burnham is the fourth Prime Minister to hold such an audience with King Charles. While the royal family remains strictly neutral and refrains from sharing political ideologies or agendas, the historic "kissing of hands" ceremony continues to symbolize a peaceful, unbroken transfer of power.

People reported that Buckingham Palace issued an official statement following the brief 35-minute meeting: "His Majesty received in audience the Rt. Hon. Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new Administration. The Rt. Hon. Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury." In a structured transition of power, Starmer first met with King Charles to offer his formal resignation, having previously informed the monarch in June. Shortly after, Burnham met with the King, who traditionally invited him to form a government, marking the official start of his tenure in public office.