Royal Family will postpone public engagements that distract from election campaign, Buckingham Palace announces
- Charles apologised to anyone affected by the announcement
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The royal family will postpone engagements 'which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign', Buckingham Palace has announced.
The palace said Their Majesties send their 'sincere apologies' to anyone who may be affected by the decision.
A full list of the events that will be impacted by this has not been released, although the King and Queen's D-Day 80th anniversary appearances in Portsmouth and Normandy in June are expected to go ahead as scheduled.
Major events in the royal calendar, including Trooping the Colour on June 15 and Royal Ascot as well as Japanese State visit to the UK could be affected.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/18/85214455-13448445-image-m-7_1716400474979.jpg)
Buckingham Palace has confirmed it will postpone royal engagements that may distract from the General Election campaign. Pictured: King Charles at a reception for the winners of The 20th Prince's Trust Awards, at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday
![Rishi Sunak announced that there would be a General Election on July 4. Pictured: Mr Sunak stands at the podium as the rain pours down outside Downing Street on Wednesday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/18/85213267-13448445-image-a-19_1716398344513.jpg)
Rishi Sunak announced that there would be a General Election on July 4. Pictured: Mr Sunak stands at the podium as the rain pours down outside Downing Street on Wednesday
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'Following the Prime Minister's statement this afternoon calling a General Election, the royal family will, in accordance with normal procedure, postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.
'Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.
The King could be set for the third prime minister of his reign.
His first prime minister was Liz Truss - but her stint in charge was the shortest in British history - and the King welcomed Mr Sunak as his second PM just six weeks after acceding to the throne.
King Charles today hosted a reception for the Princes' Trust at Buckingham Palace, while early in the week he joined Queen Camilla at Chelsea Flower Show.
It will be a blow to His Majesty who he said to be delighted to work following his cancer diagnosis.
The Prince of Wales also hosted a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace this week, with a royal support squad of his cousins by his side.
The Princess of Wales is currently not undertaking public engagements as she is treated for cancer.
![The Prince of Wales is pictured earlier this week at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/18/85214451-13448445-image-a-4_1716400442325.jpg)
The Prince of Wales is pictured earlier this week at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party
![Charles and Camilla visited Chelsea Flower Show earlier this week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/18/85214453-13448445-image-a-6_1716400448972.jpg)
Charles and Camilla visited Chelsea Flower Show earlier this week
The announcement was made after Rishi Sunak called a snap General Election for July 4 following a meeting with King Charles on Wednesday afternoon in which he requested the monarch dissolve Parliament.
It comes after months of speculation about when the Prime Minister would call a UK election, as the Conservatives trail Labour by a large margin in the polls.
In a statement in the pouring rain outside 10 Downing Street, Mr Sunak said was 'proud of what we have achieved together' since he became Tory leader in 2022.
He said the country now faced a choice between the Conservatives and Labour, adding that he will 'fight for every vote' and 'will earn your trust'.
Shortly after Mr Sunak's speech Buckingham Palace confirmed it would postpone engagements involving working royals that might distract from the election campaign.
It said: 'Following the Prime Minister's statement this afternoon calling a General Election, the royal family will, in accordance with normal procedure, postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.
![King Charles was in good spirits as he spoke with Declan Donnelly and Ali Astall, during a reception for the winners of The 20th Prince's Trust Awards, at Buckingham Palace today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/18/85213257-13448445-image-a-20_1716398698055.jpg)
King Charles was in good spirits as he spoke with Declan Donnelly and Ali Astall, during a reception for the winners of The 20th Prince's Trust Awards, at Buckingham Palace today
![Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, gives a speech in Westminster following the announcement of the General Election](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/18/85213599-13448445-image-a-21_1716398827539.jpg)
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, gives a speech in Westminster following the announcement of the General Election
'Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.'
The calling of the election means King Charles could be set for the third prime minister of his reign.
His first prime minister was Liz Truss - but her stint in charge was the shortest in British history - and the King welcomed Mr Sunak as his second PM just six weeks after acceding to the throne.
Mr Sunak revealed he spoke with King earlier on Wednesday to inform him of his decision and the King had agreed to the request for the dissolution of Parliament.
Buckingham Palace said Charles met Mr Sunak in person at the royal residence in London on Wednesday afternoon, following Charles' Prince's Trust Awards engagement.
They spent around 15 minutes together in the King's private audience room, in place of their normal weekly meeting on Wednesday evening.
Mr Sunak is not expected to visit the King again on Wednesday.
The King, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, returned to public-facing engagements in April and now has a number of duties ahead of him after Mr Sunak announced his plan for the country to go to the polls.