How Liz Truss called Charles to tell him she was resigning as Prime Minister – putting him on his second PM as King
KING Charles is set for his second Prime Minister after Liz Truss told him she was resigning as PM.
Despite only acceding to the throne six weeks ago, the monarch has now said goodbye to Liz Truss.
Truss handed in her resignation as Prime Minister today after just 44 days in office.
The embattled PM made a solemn speech outside Downing Street this afternoon confirming the astonishing turn of events.
Ms Truss' six weeks in office make her the shortest serving Prime Minister the UK has ever had.
A Tory leadership race will now begin and a new PM will be chosen by next Friday.
Read More about Liz Truss
Truss - Charles's first PM - took on her role just two days before the death of the Queen, but her premiership was disastrous and incredibly short.
She spoke to the King on the phone today to confirm her resignation as PM.
In her statement outside Downing Street, Ms Truss said: "I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party."
However, Truss will still have to meet the King in person to formally tender her resignation, as is tradition.
Most read in News
This will take place immediately before the monarch asks her successor, also in person, to form a government.
Charles as sovereign plays an important constitutional role in the appointment of a new prime minister.
Following her resignation, King Charles was today seen presenting the Letters of Recall of his predecessor as well as official letters to Ukraine to the Court of St James's at Buckingham Palace.
After winning the Conservative Party leadership contest, Truss travelled to Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands, where the Queen had been staying, on September 6, and was asked to form a government by the 96-year-old monarch.
The Queen died just two days later, with Charles becoming King.
The nation was plunged into mourning for its longest reigning monarch for the next 12 days, amid a political pause for the new Prime Minister and Parliament.
Ms Truss had promised a "bold plan" to cut taxes and grow the economy and "deliver on the energy crisis", but the mini-budget, unveiled four days after the Queen's funeral, with its plans to abolish the top rate of income tax for the highest earners sent the markets into turmoil.
Charles held his first in-person audience with Ms Truss at Buckingham Palace on September 9 - the day after the death of his mother.
Ms Truss shared her condolences with the new King, saying: "Your Majesty, my very greatest sympathies."
Charles replied: "You are very kind. It was the moment I have been dreading, as I know a lot of people have. We'll try keep everything going. Come, come have a seat."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
A day later, Ms Truss took part in the historic Accession Council where Charles was formally proclaimed King.
The same day, the King also held an audience with Ms Truss and members of her Cabinet at the Palace.
