Truss becomes new British PM after audience with Queen

Liz Truss on Tuesday officially became Britain’s new prime minister, at an audience with head of state Queen Elizabeth II after the resignation of Boris Johnson.

The former foreign secretary, 47, was seen in an official photograph shaking hands with the monarch to accept her offer to form a new government and become the 15th prime minister of her 70-year reign.

The symbolic ceremony took place at the sovereign’s remote Balmoral retreat in the Scottish Highlands, as the queen, 96, was deemed unfit to return to London due to ill health.

“The queen received in audience the right honourable Elizabeth Truss MP today and requested her to form a new administration,» Buckingham Palace said in a statement. 

“Ms Truss accepted Her Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon her appointment as prime minister. 

The last time the handover of power took place at Balmoral was in 1885, when queen Victoria was on the throne. 
Normally, the outgoing and incoming prime minister meet the queen in quick succession at Buckingham Palace in central London. 
AFP.com, 6 Sept, 2022