Liz Truss becomes UK prime minister after meeting the Queen

Having won the Conservative leadership contest, the former foreign secretary headed to Balmoral to be officially asked to form a government by the monarch.

Jennifer Scott

Political reporter @NifS

Tuesday 6 September 2022 15:30, UK

Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Picture date: Tuesday September 6, 2022.
Image: The Queen greets Liz Truss at Balmoral
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Liz Truss has become the prime minister of the United Kingdom after being officially asked by the Queen to form a new government.

The former foreign secretary beat her rival Rishi Sunak to win the Conservative leadership race on Monday and will replace Boris Johnson in Number 10.

In a break with tradition, Ms Truss travelled to Balmoral, where the Queen is on holiday, for her formal appointment.

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Queen Elizabeth II waits in the Drawing Room before receiving Liz Truss for an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Picture date: Tuesday September 6, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Picture date: Tuesday September 6, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Picture date: Tuesday September 6, 2022.

It was thought to be best for the Queen, 96, not to travel back to London due to her intermittent mobility issues.

A picture of the pair showed them meeting in the drawing room of Balmoral in front of an ornate fireplace.

The smiling monarch, who was wearing a tartan skirt and holding her walking stick, shook hands with Ms Truss as she became the 15th prime minister of her reign. The first was Sir Winston Churchill.

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After the so-called kissing the hand ceremony, Ms Truss returned to Downing Street to begin assembling her cabinet.

The Royal Household confirmed the appointment of Liz Truss in a statement
Image: The Royal Household confirmed the appointment of Liz Truss in a statement

Earlier in the day, Mr Johnson gave his last speech as prime minister to a packed Downing Street before travelling to Balmoral to formally tender his resignation to the Queen.

He said he would "get behind Liz Truss every step of the way" and told the Conservative Party that "it is time to get behind" his successor.

Mr Johnson also hinted at a possible political comeback, comparing himself to Cincinnatus, a Roman statesman who resigned and returned to his farm before, according to tradition, becoming leader again in later years.

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