Queen Elizabeth Will Appoint New Prime Minister in Scotland for the First Time Amid Mobility Issues

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Elizabeth.Photo: JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

For the first time in her historic 70-year reign,Queen Elizabethwill appoint a new prime minister in Scotland.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Wednesday that the monarch, 96, will receive either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party at Balmoral Castle, where she traditionally spends her summers, on Sept. 6. Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson will also travel to Scotland for a formal farewell.

A source explains that the decision was taken for the audiences to take place at Balmoral to provide certainty for the new prime minister and Johnson’s schedules. The Queen has been experiencingepisodic mobility issues, and they wanted to avoid the issue of alternative arrangements at the last minute had the plan been for the monarch to travel to London or Windsor Castle.

Appointing the prime minister is one of the Queen’s key duties, one she wouldn’t delegate to her son and heirPrince Charles. Charles, 73, has been undertaking an increasing number of roles on the monarch’s behalf in recent months.

Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth.Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty

Truss or Sunak will become the 15th prime minister ofQueen Elizabeth’s reign.

Although she met her first prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill, when she stepped off the plane that brought her back from Kenya to Britain in 1952, all the others have gone to see her at the palace.

Queen Elizabeth.ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Queen headed to Scotlandin Julyand willwelcome many visitors and family membersduring her time there.Kate MiddletonandPrince Williammade theirway to Balmoralalong with their three children for a visit earlier this month.

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Balmoral Castle.Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty

Although it’s a vacation, it’s not all play for the monarch while she’s away in the Scottish Highlands.Queen Elizabethcontinues to work, reading her diplomatic papers in the famous “red boxes” delivered daily. She also normally continues to hold audiences and undertake some public engagements.

source: people.com