A royal commentator believes Buckingham Palace has been “trying to distance themselves” from the idea it was King Charles’s decision to hold a meeting with Ms Von der Leyen later today. Royal correspondent Cameron Walker recounted the “tricky few days” experienced by His Majesty and Buckingham Palace since it emerged a possible meeting between Charles and the Ms Von Der Leyen was ever on the table.
Appearing on GB News, he said: “It’s very interesting that you mention Downing Street’s statement, or remarks, saying that it was very much up to the Palace and the King whether or not to meet Ursula von der Leyen.
“However, I’m getting a sense from Buckingham Palace that they’re trying to distance themselves from the idea that it was their decision or indeed the King’s decision to meet the European Commission President this afternoon, because the statement from the Buckingham Palace’s spokesperson reads, ‘The King is pleased to meet any world leader if they are visiting Britain and it is on Government advice that he should do so’.”
Mr Walker described the mention of the “Government advice” in the statement as “crucial words”.
He continued: “So in other words, it was Downing Street’s idea that this meeting was going to happen.
“Now from my understanding, the meeting is going to be a broad range, is going to be lots of topics discussed, notably climate change and the war in Ukraine, but clearly there is a big elephant in the room here, the new Northern Ireland Brexit agreement, which the Prime Minister is discussing with Von Der Leyen at the moment.”
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