Buckingham Palace has announced that the Royal Family will be postponing several upcoming engagements due to the snap general election called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The announcement came last week, with a Palace spokesperson stating that “in accordance with normal procedure”, the Royals will postpone events that “may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”
This includes the highly anticipated state visit by Emperor Naruhito of Japan and Empress Masako next month. The visit was already delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and King Charles is said to be unlikely to want to postpone it again.
However, the Prime Minister’s presence, along with other senior government officials, at a royal event so close to the election could be seen as inappropriate. Additionally, Naruhito’s schedule would normally include speaking to members of Parliament, but this is not possible with the dissolution of Parliament.
Officials are reportedly considering alternative dates for the state visit, though details are still being amended.
The situation presents a unique challenge for King Charles, who is already dealing with the transition of power and the adjustment to his new role as monarch. The need to balance protocol and public perception during an election period adds an additional layer of complexity.
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Buckingham Palace has emphasized that the Royal Family is simply following standard practice to avoid any appearance of influencing the electoral process. However, the disruption to the planned engagements underscores the delicate balance the King must maintain as he navigates this period of political uncertainty.
