Rishi Sunak sends heartfelt message to King Charles as monarch celebrates official birthday
Sunak took to social media before his appearance at Horse Guards Parade today
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Rishi Sunak has taken to social media to show his support for King Charles on his official birthday as the Royal Family gathered to celebrate Trooping the Colour in the heart of London.
In a brief yet emphatic post, the PM simply said: "God Save The King."
The King - alongside Queen Camilla - were pictured arriving for festivities in a horse-drawn carriage at Horse Guards Parade, with Buckingham Palace confirming Charles would be ruled out from horseback while he is undergoing cancer treatment.
And Princess Kate was also pictured at the event, in a landmark first public appearance since Christmas Day 2023.
Sunak took to social media before his appearance at Horse Guards Parade today
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The King and Queen were pictured arriving for festivities in a horse-drawn carriage at Horse Guards Parade
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The Princess of Wales's presence also prompted messages of support from political personalities; former Home Secretary Suella Braverman took to social media to describe her re-emergence into the public sphere as "encouraging news".
Braverman said: "Chemotherapy is draining and exhausting so, on behalf of everyone in Fareham and Waterlooville, I wish The Princess of Wales strength and good health as she continues her treatment.
"Delighted that she will be at Trooping the Colour later today."
The PM's public support for the King comes amid a Conservative election campaign which has seen his party sink to third place in the polls - though his message may assuage fears raised over patriotism in the Tory leadership in the wake of Sunak's early exit from D Day commemorations in Normandy last week.
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The PM was pictured in the stands for the King's official birthday celebrations today
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Suella Braverman said she was "delighted" that Princess Kate would be at Trooping the Colour
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Speaking to GB News, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride had defended the Prime Minister in the wake of the D-Day departure debacle; he said: "He's issued an unequivocal apology. He uses the words I am sorry.
"And knowing him as I do, I think he will be feeling this very deeply because he's a deeply patriotic man."
But Sunak - alongside his wife Akshata Murty - was pictured amid crowds at a rain-soaked Trooping the Colour this morning, having returned from a G7 summit in southern Italy just yesterday.
His cameo at Horse Guards Parade prompted jibes about his prior drenching in May when he made the snap General Election announcement on a drizzly Downing Street.
Sunak took some flak for his General Election announcement drenching in May
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Commentators noted how both Sunak and Murty opted out of donning ponchos in the stands while crowds around them sat decked out in the waterproof cover-alls - though others pointed to an umbrella nestled at the PM's feet as evidence that he had perhaps learnt from his rainy run-in on May 22.
The full working Royal Family will unite at Buckingham Palace for the flypast this afternoon in what is considered one of the highlights of the royal calendar.
But the PM is set to head to Switzerland for a landmark peace summit later today - with a ceasefire in Ukraine top of the agenda after Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined conditions for what, in Ukrainian eyes, has been seen as an "absurd" surrender.
Putin said he would bring the war to a close if Ukraine agreed to drop its Nato ambitions and hand over the entirety of four oblasts claimed by Moscow - and while the summit will be attended by representatives of more than 90 nations and organisations, it is expected to shy away from territorial issues and focus instead on matters such as food security and nuclear safety in Ukraine.
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