Queen appoints new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral in royal first
Queen Elizabeth has officially appointed Liz Truss as the new UK prime minister.
The meeting between the two women took place at Balmoral Castle on Tuesday in a royal first. Truss, Her Majesty's 15th PM, is the first to be appointed outside of Buckingham Palace in the monarch's 70-year-reign.
The 47-year-old politician was named leader of the Conservative Party on Monday, following a two-month battle against fellow MP Rishi Sunak.
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Queen Elizabeth has officially appointed Liz Truss as the new UK prime minister. Jane Barlow/Pool Photo via AP
As the leader of the largest party in parliament, the Queen today invited Truss to form a government in her name.
"The Queen received in audience the right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP today and requested her to form a new administration," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
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"Ms Truss accepted Her Majesty's offer and kissed hands upon her appointment as prime minister and first lord of the treasury."
The meeting between the two women took place at Balmoral Castle on Tuesday in a royal first, with Truss becoming the first UK PM appointed outside of Buckingham Palace Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The monarch was dressed in a tartan skirt, with a shirt tucked in and fitted cardigan over the top, along with her cane in hand. Jane Barlow/Pool Photo via AP
"Kissed hands" is a constitutional term given to the process of appointing a new PM, not actually the kissing of the monarch's hand.
However, it once did have a literal meaning and was an ancient tradition that allowed a prime minister to show their allegiance to the sovereign.
Just moments before Truss had her audience with Her Majesty in the Drawing Room, outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with the Queen, formally submitting his resignation to the monarch, which she accepted.
Johnson and wife Carrie travelled to Balmoral from London, where the outgoing UK leader gave his final speech outside No. 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning.
Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with the Queen, formally submitting his resignation to the monarch, which she accepted Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson are greeted by the Queen's Equerry Lieutenant Colonel Tom White as they arrive for an audience with the Queen at Balmoral Castle. Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The monarch was dressed in a tartan skirt, with a shirt tucked in and fitted cardigan over the top, along with her cane in hand.
Aides announced last week that the 96-year-old would not travel back to London for the event, instead having the outgoing and incoming leaders travel to her.
While the Queen has been the subject of renewed health concerns during her summer break in Scotland, it's understood the move was done to provide certainty for the new PM's diary, according to the BBC.
Johnson and wife Carrie travelled to Balmoral from London, where the out-going UK leader gave his final speech outside No. 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
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