Foster and Rees-Mogg hit out at King’s ‘crass’ and ‘unwise’ meeting
The King has found himself at the centre of the first political row of his reign after critics attacked his meeting with eU chief Ursula von der Leyen as ‘constitutionally unwise’.
Baroness [Arlene] Foster, the former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader and first minister of Northern Ireland, said their encounter over tea at Windsor Castle yesterday – which took place moments after the postBrexit deal was announced but before it has been debated, let alone ratified by Parliament – was ‘crass and will go down very badly’.
Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was wrong to involve Charles in ‘immediate political controversy’.
There was fury from some last week when it emerged that No 10 had asked the monarch to meet the european Commission President on Saturday as negotiations came to a head.
Critics felt that Rishi Sunak was placing the sovereign in an impossible position and risked accusations that the head of state was being thrust into politics. In the end, the meeting did not take place and negotiations dragged on.
But yesterday Buckingham Palace announced that Charles would meet with Mrs von der Leyen at teatime.
A spokesman for the King said: ‘The King is pleased to meet any
world leader if they are visiting Britain and it is the Government’s advice that he should do so.’ But while Buckingham Palace made clear that Charles was acting on ‘the Government’s advice’, Downing Street said it was ‘fundamentally’ a decision for the King.
Royal sources were quick to try to play down any suggestion of disagreement between the Palace and the Government, claiming that while the Government’s role was to ask and advise, it was up to the head of state to agree.
however critics continued to express their concern that it drew the King, who as head of state must remain politically neutral, into the process of the UK and eU agreeing a deal or be seen as tacitly endorsing it.
Former Cabinet minister Mr Rees-Mogg said: ‘It is surprising that the King will meet Ursula von der Leyen today as it antagonises the people the Prime Minister needs to conciliate.
‘ It is also constitutionally unwise to involve the King in a matter of immediate political controversy.’ Baroness Foster added: ‘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 [Northern Ireland].
‘We must remember this is not the King’s decision but the Government who it appears are tone deaf.’ Sammy Wilson, the DUP’s chief whip, said the meeting would risk ‘ dragging the King into a hugely controversial political issue’.
But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman likened the event to Charles meeting Polish president Andrzej Duda or Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
‘It’s not uncommon for his Majesty to accept invitations to meet certain leaders – he has met president Duda and president Zelensky recently. he is meeting with the president of the eU today,’ they said.
Asked why the final protocol talks were taking place in Windsor, he said: ‘There are a number of occasions when these sorts of talks have been held in significant locations, this is no different.’
Royal sources said the Government had formally advised the King it would be ‘an opportunity’ for them to meet and chat.
It is understood that a ‘broad range’ of issues would be discussed, including climate change and Ukraine.
The pair also have a shared love of all things equestrian.
There was no suggestion that the ‘Windsor Framework’ deal would be raised – but it would certainly have been the ‘elephant in the room’ if it wasn’t.
Protocol dictates that anything discussed between the King and his guest should not be publicly disclosed.
King Charles has met Mrs Von der Leyen on previous occasions, and sources said he was delighted to use her visit to develop that ‘cordial’ relationship further.
Mrs von der Leyen was greeted at the Sovereign’s entrance at Windsor by the King’s equerry, Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, before the meeting in the White Drawing Room.
european Commission spokesman Dana Spinant insisted that the meeting was ‘not part of this process’ to secure a deal. It has been suggested that Mrs von der Leyen had been keen to meet the King regardless.
The King and Queen Consort are due to undertake their first official state visit next month to France and Germany, where their powers of ‘soft diplomacy’ will also be much in demand.
‘Common for him to meet leaders’
‘I cannot believe No 10 involved King’