The new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, took office around 12:50 (8:50 GMT) on Tuesday (6) as she was formally appointed by Queen Elizabeth II of Scotland. The ceremony took place behind closed doors and TV cameras are not allowed. The prime minister is expected to announce the names that will make up her cabinet later this afternoon.
The brief official document resulting from the meeting contains only two sentences: “The Queen received the Honorable Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss in audience and requested her to form a new administration. Mrs Truss accepted the Queen’s offer and her appointment as Prime Minister and head of the Treasury.”
Normally, the Queen announces the name at Buckingham Palace, but this time she is vacationing at her summer residence, Balmoral Castle. The 96-year-old sovereign’s advanced age and consequent mobility difficulties made the ceremonial choose to take Liz Truss and Boris Johnson to Balmoral, rather than the other way around.
It was the 15th time that Elizabeth II had handed over the post of prime minister to a politician since her coronation in 1952. Truss is only the third woman — and the third conservative woman — in the position, having been preceded by Theresa May (2016- 2019), and Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990).
Liz Truss was elected leader of the Conservative Party with 57.4% of the valid votes, the lowest percentage among the four elected by indirect vote since 2001 — only the party members voted.
Before becoming prime minister, she held several positions in the recent governments of her party colleagues. With Boris Johnson (2019-2022) she was Secretary of International Trade and, since last year, she has served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. With May in power, Truss headed the Justice and Treasury portfolios and with David Cameron (2010-2016) she was in charge of the Environment.
In the morning, as he left Downing Street, the seat of government in London, for the last time, conservative Boris spoke for seven minutes in which he said goodbye to his post, recalled his accomplishments and wished Truss good luck. He then flew to Scotland and arrived in Balmoral around 11:00 am (7:00 am GMT). There he presented his resignation to the queen and left the castle afterwards.
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