Liz Truss, who was named leader of the Conservative Party on Monday, has been appointed UK Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury during her audience with the Queen.
Liz Truss took office on Tuesday afternoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, when Queen Elizabeth II formally asked her to form a new government. Boris Johnson, who announced his intention to step down as UK PM two months ago, formally resigned during his own audience with the queen a short time earlier.
It was the first time in the Queen’s 70-year reign that the handover of power took place at Balmoral, rather than at Buckingham Palace in London.
Following her royal audience, 47-year-old Truss will be flown right back to 10 Downing Street in London to deliver her inaugural speech as the Prime Minister before going on to unveil some key Cabinet posts.
LIZ TRUSS WINS UK PM RACE
Liz Truss was elected as the next UK Prime Minister on Monday, defeating her rival, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, to win the Tory leadership contest. Liz Truss polled 81,326 votes, compared to Rishi Sunak’s 60,399 in an election with a high turnout of 82.6 per cent.
Liz Truss is the third female Prime Minister in Britain, after Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.
Following an inaugural speech, Liz Truss is likely to announce the key ministerial portfolios in her Cabinet later today.