PM describes first assembly with Queen Elizabeth II as profession ‘highlight’

Sep 09, 2023 at 11:11 PM

rime Minister Rishi Sunak has described his first assembly with Queen Elizabeth II as one of many “highlights” of his time in Government.

Mr Sunak stated he had a non-public assembly with the Queen to debate the funds shortly after he was first made Chancellor in 2020.

He stated that he was “stressed” on the prospect.

“I was stressed anyway, so that didn’t help my stress levels.

“But then I went along, and I remember it actually. I showed up thinking it would just be a general chat and then one of the people at the palace said to me, ‘You’re the first chancellor who has come here without your big red folder’, and they said this literally before I walked into the room.

“I thought, ‘Yikes, is she going to ask me about some borrowing number in 2027/28?’

“Thankfully, without betraying too many confidences, that was not the primary focus.”

He stated he’ll “never forget” that first assembly.

“That was my first kind of audience, as such, privately with her and I will never forget that,” he stated.

“One of the highlights of the time I’ve been in government is that time spent with her, just talking about the economy and the country, because she had the most amazing historical perspective, having seen dozens of chancellors over the years and all the ups and downs of the British economy.

“She had a great perspective on that which actually gave me confidence and she was also very funny about things.”