Truss going on tour with Charles

Dinahmo

Truss started as she meant to go on. Apparently she could have flown by helicopter from the airport to Balmoral for her visit to the Queen. She chose to go by road. The former would have been quicker and cheaper but she chose the latter, which entailed a police escort and was more expensive. Why did she chose the latter?

Where do you get your information that a helicopter flight is cheaper than a car journey?

Ms. Truss would have had security in either situation.

I know it’s unusual but Charles is experienced enough to know if it would be deemed inappropriate. He has met Liz Truss so he obviously has got the impression that he would get along ok with her on a joint Uk tour.

I think it’s a good idea. It makes sense. They are both new to their respective top jobs so why not join forces and go together?

I don't think it's appropriate. As king he should be above politics and touring with the PM will be, construed as endorsement of the conservatives. Just wrong. I thought he would have known better.

Well, everything the King does will be scrutinised so he needs to tread carefully. It only crossed my mind after her death that everything the Queen did publicly for 70 years had meaning and everything she said was non controversial (albeit sometimes with double meanings: I remember when the Queen made a speech after Diana died I said to my daughter ‘listen carefully to this: she is angry and estranged from Diana…she won’t lie but she will choose her words very carefully’ which she did). As a complete blunder woman myself I find her ability to always say and do the right thing at the right time amazing. It even dawned on me that she wanted us to see her hand in that last photo: she could have asked for the blueness to be airbrushed out but she didn’t. I think she wanted to prepare us for her departure.

I don’t think that there has ever been a more unpopular PM at the beginning of their leadership. Perhaps Truss is hoping that by attaching herself to Charles, some of his popularity will rub off onto her.

GrannyGravy13

Dinahmo

Truss started as she meant to go on. Apparently she could have flown by helicopter from the airport to Balmoral for her visit to the Queen. She chose to go by road. The former would have been quicker and cheaper but she chose the latter, which entailed a police escort and was more expensive. Why did she chose the latter?

Where do you get your information that a helicopter flight is cheaper than a car journey?

Ms. Truss would have had security in either situation.

My DH read it to me from something he was reading at the time but I do not know what. It wasn't from social media.

However, having now delved further in response to your question, it would appear that heavy fog meant that neither Truss nor Johnson could make the last part of the journey by helicopter.

I still don't understand why they had to have separate flights and car journeys. We are told that it was for security reasons but since Johnson hadn't been acting as a PM should since he was kicked out and she had only been PM for a couple of days, in this instance I don't think security was of paramount importance.

Agree unlikely that LT suggested this and that it was prob fixed ages ago. In the circs I think it should have been re-thought. It gives extra and uncalled for 'legitimacy' to a new PM and that is inappropriate. Since she comes to her role well known for everything being 'all about me' it was absurd to have asked her opinion, it that is what happened.
Worst thing will be if she uses this as a reason to defer any meaningful visit of her own.

BTW someone upthread said that this was not a royal tour. What is it then?

Is Camilla accompanying Charles and Liz Truss on this ‘tour’ or whatever it is being referred as?

“There were three of us on this tour- it was a bit crowded”.

winterwhite

Agree unlikely that LT suggested this and that it was prob fixed ages ago. In the circs I think it should have been re-thought. It gives extra and uncalled for 'legitimacy' to a new PM and that is inappropriate. Since she comes to her role well known for everything being 'all about me' it was absurd to have asked her opinion, it that is what happened.
Worst thing will be if she uses this as a reason to defer any meaningful visit of her own.

BTW someone upthread said that this was not a royal tour. What is it then?

I associate a tour with celebrations and gaiety.

As I understand (and I could be wrong) King Charles 111 is visiting the leaders of all four nations of the U.K. in their homelands as part of his duty /protocol as our new King.

Look on the bright side - maybe his ideas about climate change and the environment will rub off on her...

Truss has backtracked. Her spokesperson has said she is only going to the four church services, not joining any other part of the tour. The spokesperson claims this was always her intent, but it is quite clearly not what the original Downing Street statement said.

I don’t believe any of this was arranged in advance, and Downing Street have confirmed that it is not a constitutional expectation, but something the PM feels is the right thing to do. For whom was not mentioned.

Zonne

Truss has backtracked. Her spokesperson has said she is only going to the four church services, not joining any other part of the tour. The spokesperson claims this was always her intent, but it is quite clearly not what the original Downing Street statement said.

I don’t believe any of this was arranged in advance, and Downing Street have confirmed that it is not a constitutional expectation, but something the PM feels is the right thing to do. For whom was not mentioned.

Chris Mason BBC was reporting just this 14 hours ago.

Zonne

Truss has backtracked. Her spokesperson has said she is only going to the four church services, not joining any other part of the tour. The spokesperson claims this was always her intent, but it is quite clearly not what the original Downing Street statement said.

I don’t believe any of this was arranged in advance, and Downing Street have confirmed that it is not a constitutional expectation, but something the PM feels is the right thing to do. For whom was not mentioned.

Thank goodness.

I've no problem with her attending the services, as I said way back upthread.

GG13. King Charles is touring the UK. He is royal. Not only that, he is Top royal. I think that makes it a Royal Tour.

Pleased to hear that Truss has finally listened to advise. I suspect there is concern that her popularity would fall even further, as constitutionally she has no place alongside the monarch.

I think as well that Charles should be very wary of any association with such an unpopular PM. When she falls he must be seen as entirely distant.

Advice

Zonne

Truss has backtracked. Her spokesperson has said she is only going to the four church services, not joining any other part of the tour. The spokesperson claims this was always her intent, but it is quite clearly not what the original Downing Street statement said.

I don’t believe any of this was arranged in advance, and Downing Street have confirmed that it is not a constitutional expectation, but something the PM feels is the right thing to do. For whom was not mentioned.

That’s what I thought her intention was anyway I could not imagine her going walkabout with him greeting people that would be inappropriate and unnecessary.
Whether she is popular or not is irrelevant she is attending the church services in her position of PM

I have just looked at the schedule for Charles over the next week and it seems unbelievably punishing for a man of mature years who is grieving. I feel sure that all these visits could have waited till after the funeral. It seems crazy - likely to make him ill before he even gets started.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

She certainly won't have time to waste on Gransnet, Maybee!

I think it's a huge amount to face at age 75.

MayBee70

Well, everything the King does will be scrutinised so he needs to tread carefully. It only crossed my mind after her death that everything the Queen did publicly for 70 years had meaning and everything she said was non controversial (albeit sometimes with double meanings: I remember when the Queen made a speech after Diana died I said to my daughter ‘listen carefully to this: she is angry and estranged from Diana…she won’t lie but she will choose her words very carefully’ which she did). As a complete blunder woman myself I find her ability to always say and do the right thing at the right time amazing. It even dawned on me that she wanted us to see her hand in that last photo: she could have asked for the blueness to be airbrushed out but she didn’t. I think she wanted to prepare us for her departure.

I don’t know about preparing us, but I do agree about her ( or whoever writes her stuff) saying the right thing. ‘ Recollections may vary’ was outstanding!

*Calendargirl at 12.13: “There were three of us on this tour- it was a bit crowded”.
???

They obviously heard you.

I can’t imagine either of them relishes the thought of taking all this on in their 70s, but they will be well looked after and have none of the mundane worries we do about housework, shopping and cooking, laundry, gardening, making travel arrangements, getting the car serviced, fitting in a hair appointment….

Luckygirl3

I have just looked at the schedule for Charles over the next week and it seems unbelievably punishing for a man of mature years who is grieving. I feel sure that all these visits could have waited till after the funeral. It seems crazy - likely to make him ill before he even gets started.

Your comment has made me feel sad and worried. I would not be able to take on such a daunting role and schedule at that age. The Queen had an established routine and was well looked after in old age. I doubt she had to do anything she wasn't up to, with plenty of people doing the hard graft (and rightly so) as she got older. Charles does not have that established routine and is faced with countless new tasks and ceremonies. That is extremely stressful, no matter how much help he gets.

Seems bonkers to me - I am the same age as Charles and I was contemplating not going on a group bus trip to town on Wednesday as I am getting over a cold and feel tired. Made me feel quite ill just looking at his schedule which involves popping on and off planes whilst also trying to arrange a funeral. All seems wholly unnecessary - he can visit each separate nation when he has got the funeral behind him.

I am sure he is not tearing his hair out writing speeches as I am sure he had those up his sleeve years ago; but the sheer travelling burden is enormous.