This is the moment Dec jokes with King Charles that Ant 'sends his apologies… he has a week old baby'. Ant McPartlin has broken his silence after revealing he'd welcomed his first child with his wife Anne-Marie.
King Charles wanted to emphasise his role above party politics by confirming he will postpone engagements 'which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign', an expert claimed today amid doubts over Japan 's state visit.
The King and Queen's D-Day 80th anniversary appearances in Portsmouth and Normandy in June are set to go ahead as scheduled, but the surprise revelation of a summer election has disrupted other events in the carefully planned royal diary. The King was due to make a not-yet publicly announced event in London today, then visit Crewe tomorrow to tour a Bentley factory and a community centre which supports people struggling financially – but these engagements have been shelved.Advertisement Royal aides are said to have thought it was prudent to postpone the trips in order not to immediately detract from the General Election announcement.
'The statement put out by Buckingham Palace after the Prime Minister called a General Election, states that the royal family has 'postponed engagements which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign'. The date of the dissolution is set by a royal proclamation issued by the King, on the advice of his prime minister, and timed to allow for the polling day to occur on Mr Sunak's chosen date.
The day after the General Election, it will be the King's duty to invite the leader of the party that won the most seats in the House of Commons to become prime minister and to form a government - one of the few remaining personal prerogatives of the sovereign. But the unusual July election date means the King's official birthday - Trooping the Colour on June 15 - falls in the run-up to the vote. At this stage, it is expected that the celebrations and famous balcony appearance will still take place.
'Royal engagements, which by their nature favour an industry, a charity or a particular part of the country would probably need to be cancelled during the campaign. 'It does however 'divert and 'detract' by its very nature, since it was begun by George IV in 1825. You could argue that, during an election campaign, footage of it would be of interest, especially for racing enthusiasts. It is wonderfully colourful and gives this event a unique cachet.'
King Charles III with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace in London on February 21, which was their first in-person audience since the monarch's diagnosis with cancer The wording seems ambiguous and what 'diverts' and 'distracts' individuals is surely subjective. The magnificent spectacle of Trooping the Colour followed by the iconic balcony appearance is surely intended to do both, with the Mall packed with enthusiastic onlookers. What purpose would it serve if it were axed?
The vast crowd which attends Royal Ascot, the highlight of the social season, will be very disappointed indeed if the royal procession which opens each day's racing, were to be cancelled. Advertisement 'After all, the presence of King Charles, who has recently returned to royal engagements despite battling cancer, is a tonic which, by its nature, 'diverts' and 'distracts'.'
The sovereign does not vote and is a constitutional monarch who must remain politically neutral. Charles could now be set for his third prime minister. They spent around 15 minutes together in the King's private audience room, in place of their normal weekly meeting yesterday evening.
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