The Queen has postponed the Privy Council meeting after doctors advised her Majesty to rest after meeting with Liz Truss and Boris Johnson on Tuesday.
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A core ceremonial duty
As Head of State, it is the Queen's duty to appoint each new Prime Minister and ask them to form a new government.
In a first, the Queen appointed Liz Truss Tuesday 6th September at her Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire. CNN reports that Buckingham Palace had announced in advance that Her Majesty wouldn't be making the 1000-mile round trip from Scotland to receive Truss at Buckingham Palace.
🤝 The Queen received Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle today.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 6, 2022
Her Majesty asked her to form a new Administration. Ms. Truss accepted Her Majesty's offer and was appointed Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. pic.twitter.com/klRwVvEOyc
This is no surprise, considering the Queen's age and recent mobility problems.
The Queen was due to attend an online meeting with the Privy Council on Wednesday 7th, September.
What is the Privy Council?
According to the official website, the Privy Council is one of the oldest parts of Government, dating back to the earliest days of the Monarchy.
BBC News describes it as a formal body of senior politicians whose role is to advise the Queen.
At the Privy Council, Liz Truss would have taken her oath as First Lord of the Treasury, and her cabinet ministers would also have been sworn into their roles.
Prime Minister @TrussLiz chaired the first meeting of her Cabinet this morning.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 7, 2022
The PM outlined Cabinet’s mission to build a stronger, safer, more competitive and aspirational United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/dlo3QjSksF
However, the Queen has postponed the online meeting with the Privy Council, which will be rearranged.
Under doctors' orders to rest
A Palace spokesman said:
After a full day yesterday, Her Majesty has this afternoon accepted doctors' advice to rest. This means that the Privy Council meeting that had been due to take place this evening will be rearranged.
BBC News reports that the decision to hold the Privy Council meeting virtually was already part of the changed arrangements.
In the past months, Buckingham Palace has only confirmed the Queen's attendance at public engagements on the day because of Her Majesty's ongoing mobility issues.
However, this new absence will likely raise more concerns about the Queen's increasingly frail health.
Read more:
⋙ The Queen: Her bruised hand is not the only unusual thing in the new photo with Liz Truss
⋙ Here’s why the Queen can be expected to live at Windsor Castle from now on
⋙ The Queen: Monarch rests more as her condition is not ‘ideal’
