The Queen of England, Elizabeth II has been having health issues for quite some time. Since her Platinum Jubilee, she has been facing issues with mobility. Considering her health, she will appoint the new Prime Minister from Balmoral in Scotland.
With her health deteriorating day by day, the Queen might conduct the traditional ceremony of appointing the new Prime Minister of Britain from her vacation house in Balmoral, Scotland.
As the new Tory party elections are drawing to a close the UK will have a new leader by September 5 and Queen Elizabeth II will, for the first time in the living memory of the kingdom appoint the new Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
This is a sharp turn from the age-old tradition where the ruling monarch appoints the newly elected leader from the majority party at either Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace.
Ceremony to take place at Balmoral
Owing to the Queen’s health, the new PM is to travel to Balmoral instead of the traditional sites. She has been in the country since the last month for her annual 10-week vacation at her holiday residence in Balmoral.
The ceremony, also known as the ‘kissing of the hands’ marks the winner of the majority party’s ascent to the position. A day after winning the elections, the winner reports to either the Palace or Windsor Castle.
After reaching the location, the Queen invites the winner to form a government in her name. A private audience will take place with the monarch after the ceremony. However, it would be a deviation from the royal tradition this time.
Every Prime Minister, in the living memory (except for Sir Winston Churchill and Herbert Asquith) has visited Buckingham Palace for the ceremony. Officials are drawing up clandestine plans for the politicians’ visit, British tabloid The Sun reported.
The outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to visit the location in September as well.
The Queen’s poor health
The 96-year-old monarch has not been keeping well lately. The Sun reported, “The Queen has now been advised not to travel”. It also said, “But obviously no one tells the Queen what to do and ultimately it is her decision, and as we saw when she made a third appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the Jubilee, she likes surprises.
There are some parts of her role that Prince Charles can do on her behalf but the Queen is adamant that she appoints the Prime Minister”
Image source- AP news
In the recent event of her ill health, she is not to move from Balmoral. An official source close to the royal family told The Sun, “It may not be the best choice to make the Queen travel 1,000 miles there and back for a 48-hour visit” when the Prime Ministers can “easily” travel to Balmoral.
The Queen has not returned to the Palace since July 22 when she arrived at Balmoral for her annual 10-week holiday.
However, this is not the first time for the monarch. When she came to power in 1952, following the death of her father, she had to perform the ceremony at Heathrow with her first PM Sir Winston Churchill.
Tory elections
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are the last contenders in the Prime Ministerial race after the former PM Boris Johnson resigned from the position on July 7.
This decision has been taken in view of the British monarch’s health as she has been facing mobility issues, and has been advised to stay in Balmoral, The Sun reported. The new British PM will travel to Balmoral to see the Queen for a ceremony to seal the transfer in power.
So far, the race for the position has been cutthroat with the last round of voting in September via mail.
The winner will be declared on September 5. Accordingly, they will reach Scotland on September 6.
Read more: Tory party elections: Eight MPs remain, Sunak in lead
