What we do know comes from official readouts and a few carefully placed palace whispers. When Starmer became Labour leader, Charles—then Prince of Wales—shot off a disarmingly warm letter of congratulations. The tone? Gracious, supportive, and notably light on the kind of dusty formality you’d expect from a future king.
Fast forward to Starmer becoming Prime Minister in July 2026. King Charles’s first public comment? A simple, elegant statement expressing “gratitude for Mr. Starmer’s dedication to public service.” It’s polite, yes, but notice the “dedication” part. That’s royal code for “I’ve been watching, and I approve of the work ethic.”
What the Body Language Gives Away
Want the real juicy bits? Look at the photos. At their first official meeting at Buckingham Palace, Charles leaned in with a relaxed, almost playful smirk, while Starmer looked both awe-struck and delighted. Caption that in your head: “Welcome to the madhouse, Keir. The corgis run this place.”
In another moment, Charles placed a hand on Starmer’s shoulder—a gesture so rare it practically screamed “I actually like this bloke.” Compared to the stiff handshakes of previous premiers, this was a royal high-five.
Starmer praises the King after he was heckled by Australian senator
