New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with Queen Elizabeth II and broke royal protocol by sharing what she told him during their meeting, which was reportedly less than encouraging.
The 55-year-old Conservative, known for his advocacy for leaving the European Union, was overheard by a journalist after the meeting saying that the queen did not envy his new position of power.
“’I don’t know why anyone would want the job’ – what Johnson says HM the Queen told him during his audience! The PM revealed it during a tour in Number 10 before being told off by staff not to repeat those things so loudly,” the journalist tweeted.
Exclusive: “I don’t know why anyone would want the job” – what Johnson says HM the Queen told him during his audience! The PM revealed it during a tour in Number 10 before being told off by staff not to repeat those things so loudly. ?:PA pic.twitter.com/r5CX4LbnXa
— Vincent McAviney (@VinnyMcAv) July 24, 2019
The queen ceremoniously invited Johnson to form a government Wednesday, officially signifying his new role. After the huddle, Johnson appeared outside 10 Downing St. where he gave his first speech as the new prime minister.
“We’re going to fulfill repeated promises of Parliament to the people, and come out of the EU on Oct. 31, no ifs or buts,” Johnson said. “We will do a new deal — a better deal — that will maximize the opportunities of Brexit while allowing to us to develop a new, exciting partnership with the rest of Europe based on free trade and mutual support.”
Johnson overwhelmingly won the Conservative Party leadership election, taking over the position of prime minister from 62-year-old Theresa May. May failed to successfully negotiate a deal to leave the EU, three years after voters gave Brexit the green light. Johnson staked his bid to be the next prime minister on a “do or die” campaign that promised an exit from the EU by the end of October, deal or not.
