Secrets from the throne: Queen’s quiet dismay at Boris Johnson’s leadership
New revelations expose former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s contentious relationship with Queen Elizabeth II regarding the prorogation of Parliament in 2019 and his handling of constitutional matters during his time in Downing Street.
TL;DR | Highlights from this story
● Tim Shipman’s new book reveals Queen Elizabeth II’s candid views on Boris Johnson, suggesting doubts over his political gravitas.
● Notably, the Queen reportedly called Johnson “better suited to the stage,” questioning his approach during prorogation.
● The prorogation in 2019, ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court, strained royal relations, with King Charles reportedly “furious.”
● Civil servants feared Johnson’s actions would endanger the monarchy, even questioning if the Queen could remove him.
A new book by Tim Shipman, chief political commentator at The Sunday Times, sheds light on private conversations and pointed exchanges between Queen Elizabeth II and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, particularly during the turbulent period surrounding Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament in 2019.
In a series of revealing tweets on X (formerly Twitter), Shipman highlighted previously undisclosed remarks by the Queen, including her reported comment that Johnson was “better suited to the stage” than to political office. These revelations, reported in the Sunday Times, are part of the serialisation of Shipman’s new book, Out, and offer a rare glimpse into the Queen’s candid views on one of, if not the most, controversial prime ministers in Britain’s history.
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