Keir Starmer, the current leader of Britain’s Labour Party, once criticized the monarchy in his youth but has since disavowed those statements. He has been awarded a knighthood by Prince Charles and may be more politically aligned with the king than the past Conservative prime ministers. Experts suggest that Starmer and Charles may find common ground on issues such as climate change, housing, immigration, and EU relations. They both share a concern for social issues and could potentially have a fruitful working relationship if Starmer is elected as prime minister.
If elected, Starmer would hold weekly meetings with Charles, focusing on a range of issues that will be kept confidential. Experts believe that Charles would appreciate the stability that a Labour government could bring after the political turmoil following Brexit. As a unifying force, the monarchy seeks consensus over division, a role that Charles takes seriously. While his mother represented the wartime generation, Charles is more representative of the ’60s generation, making him more vocal about issues he cares about.
Charles, as sovereign, does not vote, but as heir, he has been outspoken on various topics such as organic farming and architecture. He has expressed criticism towards government decisions, such as the plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, which he found appalling. Starmer has promised to scrap this plan if his party comes to power. Climate policy is another area where Charles and Labour could align, with the party announcing a significant green investment plan that may resonate with the king’s views.
Starmer’s background as a lawyer and commitment to the law might spare Charles from facing difficult dilemmas like his mother did in 2019 when she had to approve unlawful decisions made by the prime minister. Historically, Elizabeth had cordial relations with Labour prime ministers over conservative ones. Starmer has led a purge of the party’s hard left, signaling a shift towards a more constitutional stance. Residual anti-monarchical sentiments within the party seem to have faded, evident when Starmer led the singing of the national anthem after the queen’s passing at the 2022 Labour party conference.
Overall, it seems that a potential Starmer government would likely see him and Charles finding common ground on various issues facing the country. Their shared concern for social issues, climate change, and stable governance could pave the way for a productive relationship between the monarch and the prime minister, potentially bringing about positive change for the nation.
