Anger as minister says King wants border deal

IRELAND’S foreign minister has sparked controversy after hinting that King Charles wants a deal with the EU over the Northern Ireland border.

Simon Coveney said Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol had caused unwelcome ‘ tension’ between Britain and Ireland.

And he said that he expected the new monarch would want to ‘protect and strengthen the relationship’ between the two countries.

But Tory MPs accused the politician of making a ‘grave error’ by trying to ‘ put words into the mouth’ of the UK’s head of state.

Mr Coveney told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday: ‘You don’t have to be a politician to impact on a nation.

‘I think that Queen Elizabeth II’s impact on Ireland – particularly since 2011 – was a hugely positive one and her son, now King Charles III, also has a deep affection for Ireland... I expect that that affection won’t change now that he is King.’

Mr Coveney added: ‘Obviously his role has changed. I’ve spoken to him about this many times.

I expect that he will want to see his role being part of protecting and building and strengthening the relationship between Britain and Ireland.’

However, his comments sparked a backlash, with ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith urging listeners to ‘ignore’ the remarks.

He said: ‘ It is unusual for a spokesman for another country to try and put words into the mouth of the head of state of the UK.

‘I think at this particular time it is a grave error to make any such suggestion at this time, given the period of mourning and the death of Her Majesty’

Former Brexit minister David Jones said: ‘I am sure that the King wishes to see a strong relationship between Britain and Ireland, as does everyone.

‘However, I would be very surprised if he gave any indication at all that he wants to see a deal over the protocol... I have no doubt that he is happy to leave the politics to the politicians.’

‘Putting words in his mouth’