The Queen’s powers and Boris Johnson's succession

The Queen’s had a working relationship with 14 prime ministers during her 70-year reign, beginning with Sir Winston Churchill from 1952 to 1955.

Now, this week as the Downing Street psychodrama unfolded, the monarch and her staff will have keenly followed developments.

After all, our monarchy remains woven into matters of state happening just down the road from Buckingham Palace in Whitehall and the Palace of Westminster.

Could the Queen get dragged into the fallout from the Johnson premiership, and what was her relationship like with the outgoing prime minister? 

We look at the Queen’s role in times of national political flux and has the latest on the race to succeed Boris Johnson after his resignation speech.

It comes as Johnson defies calls to leave No.10 immediately as the hunt for his successor hots up, with senior Tories looking to September for getting a new prime minister installed following shortlist selection, voting by party members and Parliamentary summer recess.

To give us a glimpse into the protocols and legal practicalities of the Queen’s rapport with Boris Johnson, we’re joined by the Evening Standard’s royal editor Robert Jobson.

The Leader also discusses whether there’s appetite for constitutional reform under future monarchs Charles and William.

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