King Charles Tea With EU Head Was "Constitutionally Foolish"

When Rishi Sunak sought unionist backing for the new post-Brexit Northern Ireland settlement, the King's meeting with EU leader Ursula von der Leyen infuriated them.

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Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said Charles should not be drawn into the "current political dispute."

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Baroness Arlene Foster said the meeting in Windsor Castle was "crass and will go down very badly".

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Buckingham Palace said Charles was following "government advice," but Downing Street maintained it was "essentially" the King's choice.

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Charles met Ms. von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, where he married the Queen Consort in 2005.

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Climate change, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and maybe Northern Ireland were discussed.

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There have been rumours that the EU leader contacted Buckingham Palace directly to set up the meeting.

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Conservatives warned that the meeting may involve the King in the UK-EU deal-making process or implicitly endorse it.

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The European Commission deputy chief spokeswoman claimed the meeting was "not part of this effort" to strike a settlement.

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