The Queen's role in the departure of Boris Johnson and the appointment of the new Prime Minister

The Queen will play an important constitutional role in the appointment of a new Prime Minister after the departure of Boris Johnson.

Mr. Johnson - the 14th prime minister in the monarch's 70-year reign - will have to travel to see the head of state formally tender his resignation - usually after his successor is appointed leader of the Conservative Party.

The Embattled Prime Minister reportedly telephoned the Queen on Thursday morning as a courtesy as he set to tell the nation he was stepping down, although Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

The pair had their meeting weekly by telephone on Wednesday evening – the day Mr Johnson faced a mass exodus of ministers and aides.

A Prime Minister's resignation hearing traditionally takes place at Buckingham Palace, but the Queen's age and ongoing mobility issues and the fact that Mr Johnson will remain in the role until in the fall could potentially see the hearing take place at Balmoral Castle for what could be the first time in recent history.

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