Election reminds us the Crown is an integral part of parliament
The King's whole schedule, which only recently restarted following his cancer diagnosis, is now being assessed and reviewed, to avoid distracting from the political campaigns that take place in the run-up to the general election on 4 July.
Wednesday 22 May 2024 20:32, UK
This is the first time the King has been formally asked to dissolve parliament.
In fact, it's the first time since 2010 that this request has had to be officially made, following the repealing in 2022 of the Fixed-Term Parliament Act - which meant elections were scheduled.
The prime minister made the legal request in person, during a fifteen-minute audience with the King at Buckingham Palace, before dashing back to Downing Street.
So quick and discreet was the meeting that no one spotted Rishi Sunak arriving or leaving, which came ahead of his announcement on the steps of Downing Street that the election would be held on 4 July.
The King must sit above politics, but this announcement has meddled with the monarch's diary.
At short notice, engagements are being cancelled which might "divert attention or distract from the election campaign".
We understand the King's whole schedule, which only recently restarted following his cancer diagnosis, is now being assessed and reviewed, though plans to attend D-Day commemorations are going ahead.
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The King's constitutional role might seem ceremonial, but today is a reminder the Crown remains an integral part of parliament.
Only the King can appoint prime ministers, only the King approves bills, and only the King can dissolve parliament.
Fifteen different prime ministers served under the late Queen, and her long reign contained 18 general elections.
The King has already had two prime ministers (Liz Truss and Mr Sunak).
At the end of this election campaign, he will either reappoint Rishi Sunak, or formally invite a new incumbent to form a government.