Analysis
No 10 bats away criticism after king’s meeting with Ursula von der Leyen
Jessica Elgot
Deputy
political editor
European Commission president, said to have a love of
British history, met Charles after Northern Ireland deal agreed
UK politics
live – latest news updates
Mon 27 Feb
2023 19.39 GMT
When King
Charles III ascended the throne, the new monarch is said to have accepted he
would have a changed role with less freedom to intervene in politics. But he
had reckoned without the Windsor framework.
It was a
moment with a distinctly royal flavour – sealed at the Windsor Guildhall, where
Charles married Camilla, under vast portraits of past monarchs.
As Ursula
von der Leyen took to the podium, a painting of the young Queen Elizabeth was
at her left shoulder. Above Rishi Sunak, the queen mother looked sternly on
from her golden portrait. Later, Von der Leyen sealed a historic moment by
taking tea with Charles, beaming as she was greeted by his equerry and private
secretary.
Outraged
Tory Brexiters and the Democratic Unionist party, including the former first
minister Arlene Foster, condemned Sunak’s judgment in involving the monarchy in
such a controversial political moment. Even Labour MPs questioned the
constitutional implications.
But among
those in the room, there were subtle hints this was not something entirely at
the instigation of the prime minister. Von der Leyen has always described
herself as passionate anglophile with a love for British history and – it was
hinted – a personal desire to meet Charles.
That might
have seemed a little too convenient, but reporters departing the press
conference happened upon Von der Leyen at the entrance to the Guildhall, keen
to go back into the historic room and look at the royal portraits.
No 10
insisted that the royal connections were entirely coincidental, not intended to
send a signal to royalist unionists or to suggest the deal had a seal of
approval from the king.
Buckingham
Palace’s own announcement – interpreted as placing the onus on Sunak – said
that the king was acting on “the government’s advice” and that their
discussions would feature a “range of topics”.
No 10’s
line was the opposite – that it was a decision for Buckingham Palace. “It’s not
uncommon for his majesty to accept invitations to meet certain leaders – he has
met President [Andrzej] Duda [of Poland] and President Zelenskiy recently. He
is meeting with the president of the EU today.”
Sunak’s
spokesperson batted away suggestions that the royal audience could be seen as
an endorsement by the palace of the Northern Ireland protocol deal. “We’d never
be seen to frame any action as an endorsement,” the spokesperson said.
Asked why
the final protocol talks were taking place in Windsor, he added: “There are a
number of occasions when these sorts of talks have been held in significant
places, this is no different.”
Foster, who
led the DUP during the negotiations for Theresa May and Boris Johnson’s Brexit
deals, tweeted: “I cannot quite believe that No 10 would ask HM the king to
become involved in the finalising of a deal as controversial as this one.
“It’s crass
and will go down very badly in NI. We must remember this is not the king’s
decision but the government, who it appears are tone-deaf.”
The Labour
MP Chris Bryant said it was a “terrible mistake from the government – we should
never bring the monarchy into political disputes”.
Sammy
Wilson, the DUP’s chief whip, was also deeply critical of the timing of the
meeting, saying it risked “dragging the king into a hugely controversial
political issue”.
The former
cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said the meeting called into question the
king’s role when he had a duty to approve parliament’s legislation. “I think
the sovereign should only be involved when things have been completed and
accepted,” he told GB News.
“The king
gives assent to acts of parliament when parliament has agreed, he doesn’t
express his view on acts of parliament when they are going through the process.
I think the same applies – that his majesty should not be involved until there
is full support for this agreement.”
But with
the deal done, with warm words from Von der Leyen for “dear Rishi” and a
promise of a fresh era of relations with the EU, the tea at Windsor Castle took
place despite the protestations. The topics on the agenda for the pair were
said to be the climate crisis and the war in Ukraine, with the protocol deal
complete.
No 10 will
hope the outrage over the cosy chat will fade as Westminster becomes distracted
by poring over the newly released details of the Windsor framework.
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