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- King Charles was due to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday in a move that was expected to be part of a deal between the UK and EU over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit agreement.
- The King was due to play a major role in the final part of the protocol negotiations.
- Support from the King would likely be deeply controversial, risking allegations he is being dragged into politics.
- The decision to arrange the meeting would have been agreed by Downing Street and Buckingham Palace jointly.
- It was stated that it would be wrong to suggest the King would be involved in anything remotely political.
Die Details
King Charles to Meet European Commission President
King Charles was due to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday in a move that was expected to be part of a deal between the UK and EU over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit agreement.
The King was due to play a major role in the final part of the protocol negotiations, although there is no suggestion he would have taken part in the talks.
At one stage, the plan for Saturday was for Ms Von der Leyen to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to endorse the deal and separately for her to meet the King.
Discussions were also had about calling the deal “the Windsor Agreement”, lending an air of royal authority to it.
Controversy Over King’s Involvement
Support from the King would likely be deeply controversial, risking allegations he is being dragged into politics.
The decision to arrange the meeting would have been agreed by Downing Street and Buckingham Palace jointly.
However, UK government sources said Ms von der Leyen was no longer expected to travel to the UK on Saturday.
It was stated that it would be wrong to suggest the King would be involved in anything remotely political.
Some around Mr Sunak would have been keen that the King, as perhaps the most prominent unionist in the country, was seen taking an interest in its outcome and this in turn encouraged support from unionists.
No formal invitation was ever offered.
Reactions to King’s Involvement
One source close to the negotiation says that the King’s involvement was definitely an attempt to sell the protocol domestically.
Other government sources are deeply concerned that this politicises the new King even before his coronation.
Former cabinet minister and leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said if there were a plan to bring the King in before there is domestic political agreement, it would border on constitutional impropriety.
Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said it was a very unwise policy to choose and highly insensitive to the politics of Northern Ireland.
Number 10 and Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
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