King Charles III formally appointed Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Friday. The appointment came after the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the general election.
According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, the King received Starmer in an audience and requested him to form a new administration. Starmer accepted the offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.
Earlier, the King had accepted the resignation of Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, paving the way for Starmer’s appointment. The palace released a photograph showing the monarch shaking hands with Starmer, who delivered a speech during a victory rally at the Tate Modern in London.
With his appointment, Starmer vowed to “rebuild Britain” and promised a new era of governance. His party’s victory has been hailed as a significant shift in the UK’s political landscape.
The development has also drawn reactions from international leaders, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who congratulated Starmer on his election win.