The British monarch is constitutionally barred from any role in politics, but experts suggest that King Charles III and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer have much in common. This potential alignment could foster a unique relationship should Starmer become Prime Minister.
Nearly 20 years ago, a young human rights lawyer named Keir Starmer expressed his ambivalence about receiving the title of Queen’s Counsel, given his earlier views on the monarchy. Today, as the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, Starmer has distanced himself from those youthful indiscretions. In 2014, he was knighted by Charles, then Prince of Wales, for his contributions as director of public prosecutions.
If Sir Keir Starmer is elected Prime Minister next week, as polls suggest, he may find more political alignment with King Charles than the recent Conservative Prime Ministers, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, whose terms have overlapped with the king’s reign. On topics such as climate change, housing, immigration, and Britain’s relationship with the EU, experts believe Starmer and Charles may share common ground, even though the king is constitutionally barred from political involvement.
“A Labour government under Keir Starmer will be more attuned to the plight of people as a social issue,” said Ed Owens, a historian of the royal family. “These kinds of issues have long been on the radar of the king. There’s a meeting of minds in terms of the social issues at stake.”
Mr. Starmer was knighted by Charles, then the Prince of Wales, in 2014. (Photo Credit: Press Association, via Alamy)
Should Starmer become Prime Minister, he would hold weekly meetings with Charles, the content of which would remain confidential. Insiders from Buckingham Palace and Downing Street foresee a productive relationship between the 75-year-old monarch and the 61-year-old lawyer. Beyond Starmer’s progressive politics, scholars suggest Charles might appreciate the stability a Labour government could bring following the political upheaval post-Brexit.
“The monarchy seeks to be a unifying force, holding the country together, so it favors consensus rather than division,” said Vernon Bogdanor, a professor at Kings College London. “That is how the king sees his role.”
While Charles, as sovereign, does not vote, he has historically been outspoken about issues he cares deeply about, such as organic farming and architecture. Occasionally, his views on more politically charged topics have surfaced, as in 2022, when he reportedly criticized the Conservative government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda as “appalling.” Though Clarence House declined to comment, the king’s private remarks were widely reported.
Charles passing in front of Mr. Starmer and Boris Johnson at the National Service of Remembrance in 2021. (Photo Credit: Henry Nicholls/Reuters)
Climate policy is another area where the king might find a Labour government more aligned with his views. While Liz Truss asked Charles not to attend a UN climate conference, and Rishi Sunak backtracked on emission-reduction targets, Labour has announced a £28 billion annual green investment plan, though spending targets have been temporarily suspended to improve Britain’s public finances.
“It does sound like a new Labour government and Charles would be in step on these issues,” said Owens. “But Labour has many fine words on the importance of a green agenda. Can they match those fine words with action?”
Charles receiving Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace in 2022. (Photo Credit: Pool photo by Yui Mok)
Starmer’s dedication to the law might also spare the king the dilemmas faced by his mother. In 2019, Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II to suspend Parliament, a decision later ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. Critics accused Johnson of placing the queen in a difficult position. Similarly, Truss’s unfunded tax cuts in 2022 caused financial market turmoil, contributing to her downfall.
“These prime ministers were able to run roughshod over the rules,” said Owens. “Generally speaking, the monarchy doesn’t like it when too much attention is focused on the Constitution.”
Despite the Labour Party’s historical anti-monarchy sentiment, Elizabeth II reportedly had more cordial relations with Labour prime ministers, such as Harold Wilson, compared to some Conservative leaders like Margaret Thatcher. Today, Starmer’s leadership has further evolved Labour into a party that respects constitutional monarchy, distancing itself from its anti-monarchist past.
At Labour’s 2022 party conference, following the queen’s death, the national anthem was played for the first time. Starmer, once a critic of the monarchy, led the party in singing “God Save the King.”
