Queen Elizabeth worked with 15 prime ministers during her 70-year reign. She built strong relationships with each of them and played a crucial role in the transition of power. Every week, the Queen would meet with her prime minister for a private audience.
Here is a list of the prime ministers who served under Queen Elizabeth II:
– Winston Churchill: The Queen had a good relationship with Churchill, who was the first prime minister to retire during her reign.
– Anthony Eden: The Queen had a good relationship with Eden, but his handling of the Suez Crisis concerned her.
– Harold Macmillan: The Queen and Macmillan did not initially hit it off, but they later grew fond of each other and worked well together.
– Alec Douglas-Home: Douglas-Home had a close relationship with the Queen and helped her name royal horses.
– Harold Wilson: Wilson was the first Labour Party prime minister to serve the Queen. They had a strong relationship despite fears that it would be problematic due to Wilson’s socialist leanings.
– Edward Heath: The Queen and Heath did not have a close relationship due to his pro-Europe stance.
– James Callaghan: Callaghan was a devoted monarchist and had a strong relationship with the Queen.
– Margaret Thatcher: Thatcher and the Queen respected each other but were not close. They clashed over Thatcher’s handling of certain issues.
– John Major: Major was the first prime minister younger than the Queen. He announced Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s separation to the UK parliament.
– Tony Blair: Blair was known as a modernizer and had a good relationship with the Queen.
– Gordon Brown: Brown was not on the guest list for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.
– David Cameron: Cameron and the Queen got along well, and he was also a distant relative of hers.
– Theresa May: May remarked on how well-versed the Queen was with current issues.
– Boris Johnson: Johnson broke the cardinal rule of revealing details of his conversation with the Queen, causing controversy.
– Liz Truss: Truss was appointed as the UK’s prime minister two days before the Queen’s death.
The Queen played a constitutional role in the transition of power, and her relationships with her prime ministers were crucial to this process.
