Why Britain’s newest Prime Minister will no longer ‘kiss hands’ with The King

For centuries, the appointment of a new Prime Minister was known as the “kissing of hands” – one of the oldest constitutional ceremonies in the United Kingdom.

Today, however, the tradition has evolved. When Andy Burnham is appointed Prime Minister by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, there will be no kissing of the Sovereign’s hand. Instead, the two men will simply shake hands before the new Prime Minister is invited to form a government.

Despite the change in practice, the ceremony continues to be officially described as the “kissing of hands” in constitutional language.

The tradition dates back hundreds of years, when senior ministers and office holders would physically kiss the monarch’s hand as a symbol of loyalty and acceptance of office. The act demonstrated both respect for the Sovereign and the recipient’s willingness to undertake the responsibilities entrusted to them.

Over time, the practice gradually fell out of use. By the twentieth century, the ceremony had become largely symbolic, with new Prime Ministers simply shaking hands with the Monarch while the historic title remained unchanged.

The audience itself remains one of the most important constitutional moments in British public life. Following the resignation of the outgoing Prime Minister, the Monarch invites the individual most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons to form a government.

Only once that invitation has been accepted does the individual officially become Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.

The audience takes place in private and usually lasts only a matter of minutes. Afterwards, Buckingham Palace releases a photograph of the Monarch greeting the new Prime Minister before they depart for 10 Downing Street to begin assembling a government.

Andy Burnham’s appointment makes him the fourth Prime Minister to be received by King Charles III since the start of the reign in September 2022, following Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

While the ritual has modernised, the constitutional significance remains unchanged. The audience between Sovereign and Prime Minister symbolises the peaceful transfer of executive power, with the Monarch acting in a politically neutral capacity in accordance with long-established constitutional convention.