Royal Family to Postpone Engagements During Election Campaign
Buckingham Palace has announced that the Royal Family will postpone engagements over the next month to avoid diverting attention from the upcoming election campaign. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the announcement this afternoon that a general election will be held on Thursday, July 4, to decide the country’s next Government. The PM met with King Charles at Buckingham Palace to request the dissolution of Parliament, as reported by the Mirror.
Following this announcement, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Royal engagements would be postponed. A spokesman stated, “Following the Prime Minister’s statement this afternoon calling a General Election, The Royal Family will – in accordance with normal procedure – postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign. Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”
Rishi Sunak met with King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the monarch hosted the young winners of the Prince’s Trust Awards. The pair met for around 15 minutes in the King’s usual private audience room as part of the Prime Minister’s scheduled weekly audience, via Sky News.
Announcing the election outside 10 Downing Street, the PM emphasized the importance of stability and trust in his address. He stated, “This hard-earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning. The question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family, and our country? Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.”
Sunak also reflected on his commitment to the country, saying, “I have never and will never leave the people of this country to face the darkest of days alone, and you know that because you’ve seen it. As I did then, I will forever do everything in my power to provide you with the strongest possible protection I can. That is my promise to you. Because for so many of us, it’s easy to forget the scale of what we’ve been through.”
The Royal Family’s decision to postpone engagements aligns with the tradition of maintaining neutrality during election campaigns and ensuring that no royal activities overshadow the political process. As the election campaign progresses, the focus will remain on the candidates and their platforms, with the Royal Family resuming their public duties after the election concludes.