King Charles was lined up by Number 10 to satisfy European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday – simply as extremely contentious negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol have been poised to come back to a head.
After weeks of fraught talks and rising anger amongst Tory backbenchers and unionists, a deal between the UK and EU over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit settlement, which may immediate a significant rise up, is anticipated inside days.
Now Sky News can reveal that the King had been attributable to play a significant function within the last a part of the protocol negotiations, by assembly Ms von der Leyen on Saturday.
This may have been interpreted as giving his blessing to the negotiations on the late stage and even endorsing the deal altogether if it had concluded on Saturday morning as had been rumoured at one stage.
But, it was cancelled earlier on Friday.
Read extra: What is the Northern Ireland Protocol and why does it matter?
At one stage, the plan for Saturday was for Ms Von der Leyen to satisfy Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to endorse the deal and individually for her to satisfy the King.
Discussions have been additionally had about calling the deal “the Windsor Agreement”, lending an air of royal authority to it.
However, help from the King would probably be deeply controversial, risking allegations he’s being dragged into politics.
His mom, the late Queen, confronted criticism for a tentative step into politics when she instructed that voters within the Scottish referendum assume very rigorously earlier than casting their vote.
The King assembly the negotiator at this stage might be seen an much more overtly political act than that.
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The resolution to rearrange the assembly would have been agreed by Downing Street and Buckingham Palace collectively.
Some round Mr Sunak would have been eager that the King, as maybe essentially the most distinguished unionist within the nation, was seen taking an curiosity in its end result and this in flip inspired help from unionists.
No formal invitation was ever provided. However, UK politicians and official and senior EU figures have been conscious of the occasion that had been attributable to happen at Windsor on Saturday afternoon.
One supply near the negotiation says that the King’s involvement was positively an try to promote the protocol domestically.
However, different authorities sources are deeply involved that this politicises the brand new King even earlier than his coronation.
Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Kyle stated: “Sunak is already showing that negotiation is better than fighting but his lack of political acumen and judgement is once again undermining his chance of success.”
Number 10 and Buckingham Palace declined to remark.
Source: information.sky.com”