Queen to appoint new prime minister at Balmoralon August 31, 2022 at 12:25 pm

The Queen will not appoint the next prime minister in London, but will instead stay in Balmoral to do it, Buckingham Palace has said.

The new PM and Boris Johnson will go to Scotland, in a break from tradition for the event on 6 September.

During her 70-year-reign the Queen, 96, has appointed her new prime ministers at Buckingham Palace.

It is understood that the decision was taken to provide certainty for the new prime minister’s diary.

Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak will be announced as leader of the Conservative Party on 5 September.

Boris Johnson is expected to announce his resignation to the Queen the following day, with his successor appointed by the monarch shortly after.

Buckingham Palace previously said the Queen would interrupt her stay at Balmoral to meet with the new prime minister – the 15th of her 70-year reign.

The monarch has been taking her traditional summer break in Scotland with family and guests. She usually stays at the estate from August to October.

As head of state, it is the Queen’s duty to appoint the prime minister who leads Her Majesty’s Government.

Every leader bar one has been appointed at Buckingham Palace since the reign of Queen Victoria, according to constitutional expert Professor Vernon Bogdanor.

The only exception was in 1908, when Herbert Henry Asquith travelled to Edward VII in the French city of Biarritz for his appointment.