The Labour Party has won the UK general election, and Keir Starmer will be the new Prime Minister.
However, he will not officially take the role until King Charles III formally asks him to form a new government in a ceremony on Friday.
In the UK, the Prime Minister is traditionally invited by the monarch to form a government, even though real political power lies with the elected Parliament. This ceremony highlights the UK’s mix of historic royal traditions with modern democratic governance.
Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will first visit Buckingham Palace to resign. Afterward, Starmer will meet the King for his formal appointment. The ceremony, called the Kissing of Hands, involves no actual kissing. Starmer will bow and shake the King’s hand, and a photograph will be taken to mark the moment.
This event will attract significant media attention, with news helicopters following both leaders’ cars. After the ceremony, Starmer will return to Downing Street to make his first statement as Prime Minister, greeted by applause from his staff.
Sunak, after his resignation, will leave in a private car to his residence. The transition is quick, with movers often seen at the back of Downing Street as the new leader enters the front.
The ceremonial transfer of power underscores the UK’s stable and peaceful political transitions, a stark contrast to more turbulent political climates worldwide. King Charles III will continue his ceremonial duties, including the state opening of Parliament, where he will deliver a speech outlining the new government’s agenda.
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