Officials are drawing up new plans for the Queen in a major break from tradition as the monarch continues to suffer from mobility issues.
In a surprise turnaround, the new Prime Minister could be appointed by the Queen at Balmoral instead of Buckingham Palace.
The Queen is on holiday at Balmoral and due to the 96-year-old’s frailty the answer could be to unveil Boris Johnson ’s replacement at her Scottish retreat on September 6.
It had been thought that the Queen would have had to interrupt her break and have a 1,000-mile round trip to appoint either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss as the new Conservative leader.
Each year the monarch heads to Balmoral Castle in July and usually remains there until October before returning to Buckingham Palace.
But with her difficulty with mobility a secret plan has reportedly been drawn up that would see the new PM visit her in Scotland.
It would be a significant change from tradition and be a historic first if Mr Johnson hands over the reins to his successor in the dubbed kissing of the hands ceremony outside of London.
When a new leader is elected, it is traditional for them to have a private meeting with the Queen in Buckingham Palace, known as the audience, where the individual and the Queen “kiss hands”.
While it would delay the announcing of a new government with a drip up to Scotland by the new Prime Minister, it is down to medical advice that the Queen should not travel.
“The Queen has now been advised not to travel,” said a Sun source.
“But obviously no one tells the Queen what to do and ultimately it is her decision, and as we saw when she made a third appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the Jubilee she likes surprises.
“There are some parts of her role that Prince Charles can do on her behalf but the Queen is adamant that she appoints the Prime Minister. It may not be the best choice to make the Queen travel 1,000 miles there and back for a 48-hour visit when the Prime Ministers can easily get to Balmoral instead.”
Due to the Queen’s age, Prince Charles has gradually been taking on more responsibilities and this includes most recently his role at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
But due to the importance of appointing the new Prime Minister, the Queen will carry out the duty.
The monarch undertook her first “kissing hands” ceremony with then Prime Minister Winston Churchill, back in 1952, when she returned from a trip to Africa following the death of George Vl.
The Mirror has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
