Why the British Royal Family May Postpone Outings as Surprise General Election Announced

Could King Charles soon have the third prime minister of his reign?

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s call for a surprise general election on July 4 may change the British royal family’s summer plans.

Speaking in a news conference outside 10 Downing Street on May 22, Sunak said, “Earlier today, I spoke with His Majesty The King to ask for the dissolution of Parliament. The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on the 4th of July.”

The royal family will postpone engagements “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said on May 21.

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result,” the spokesperson added.

While the events surrounding the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, including King Charles’ first overseas trip since he announced his cancer diagnosis in February, are expected to go on as scheduled, others are under review and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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Why the British Royal Family May Postpone Outings as Surprise General Election Announced
Could King Charles soon have the third prime minister of his reign?

By Stephanie Petit and Simon Perry Published on May 22, 2024 01:57PM EDT
King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace
King Charles (left) and the U.K.’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Oct. 25, 2022. PHOTO: AARON CHOWN – WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES
United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s call for a surprise general election on July 4 may change the British royal family’s summer plans.

Speaking in a news conference outside 10 Downing Street on May 22, Sunak said, “Earlier today, I spoke with His Majesty The King to ask for the dissolution of Parliament. The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on the 4th of July.”

The royal family will postpone engagements “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign,” a Buckingham Palace spokesman said on May 21.

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result,” the spokesperson added.

Queen Camilla smiles as she departs a service of dedication for the Order of The British Empire with King Charles III at St Paul’s Cathedral
King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 15, 2024. CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES
King Charles Says He Has Been ‘Reduced to Tears’ Over Response to His Cancer Diagnosis in Vulnerable Moment
While the events surrounding the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, including King Charles’ first overseas trip since he announced his cancer diagnosis in February, are expected to go on as scheduled, others are under review and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

June was shaping up to be a busy month for the British royals, including Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration of the monarch’s birthday with a parade in London, on June 15 and a state visit at Buckingham Palace for the Emperor and Empress of Japan set for late June. King Charles, 75, recently returned to a fuller schedule of royal duties, including public outings, amid his cancer treatment. The King quipped during a May 9 outing to the Royal School of Military Engineering that he was glad to be “out of my cage” after spending several months working mainly behind the scenes or taking part in small audiences.