JOHN Swinney will join the Prime Minister and King Charles in an event at Windsor.
The SNP leader has been invited along with the first ministers of Northern Ireland and Wales and the deputy first minister in Northern Ireland for dinner on Wednesday evening.
So-called “dine and sleep” events such as this were also hosted by the late Queen, but would be a mix of famous names, rather than just politicians.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on why this time the King has decided to only invite politicians.
The event comes after Downing Street denied dragging the King into politics following a rare joint engagement by the head of state alongside Starmer, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, on Monday.
They visited a housing project in Cornwall inspired by the King.
Some of the leaders will stay in Windsor, however Northern Irish first minister Michelle O’Neill has decided not to spend the night at the royal residence.
A Sinn Fein spokesperson said on Wednesday: “As first minister, Michelle O’Neill has been invited to a political engagement in Windsor Castle, hosted by the British King today, Wednesday 12th February.
“This event will be attended by the British Prime Minister, the first ministers from Scotland and Wales, and the first minister and deputy first minister.
“This is an opportunity to advocate for the best interests of people and communities on our island.”
It is understood that the Prime Minister will return to Downing Street in nearby London on Wednesday evening.
The visit to Cornwall earlier this week was understood to have followed conversations about housing over the past few months between Charles and Starmer, during which the Nansledan project, a 540-acre extension to the seaside town of Newquay, was mentioned.
Starmer is said to have expressed an interest in seeing the development in person, with Charles offering to show him around, an invitation accepted by the Prime Minister and his deputy, who is also the Housing Secretary.
Asked if making the visit ahead of the announcement risked the King being dragged into politics, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman replied: “No.”
The King, who was a self-confessed “interferer and meddler”, signalled when he became King that there would be less time for charities and causes he has championed in the past.
In his address to the nation during his first full day as King in 2022 he signalled his new role would mean reduced involvement in campaigning on issues and working with his charities.
He said: “My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities.
“It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.
“But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”
Letters the King wrote to a number of government departments between 2004 and 2005 became the subject of a protracted legal battle over whether their contents should be disclosed.
Wednesday will not be the first time Starmer has attended a “dine and sleep” event at Windsor.
In April 2023, as Leader of the Opposition, Starmer and his wife joined Charles for the first such private dinner of his reign.
Among other guests were then-England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate, author Alexander McCall Smith, actress Ayesha Dharker, the Bishop of Coventry and the Dean of Windsor.
