King Charles and outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer always appear to have a warm rapport whenever they meet.
The monarch, 77, was particularly empathetic towards the politician after he first won the election in July 2024.
Charles – only two years into being head of state himself – sympathised with Sir Keir, telling him he must be "utterly exhausted and nearly on your knees" at their historic meeting at Buckingham Palace, and said getting to "grips with everything straight away must be taxing".
At the time, the King had been diagnosed with cancer just months previously and was only two years into being head of state himself, following the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He meets weekly with Sir Keir most Wednesdays for an audience to discuss government matters following Prime Minister's Questions. The pair are set to meet on Tuesday this week as normal, HELLO! understands.
Sir Keir was knighted by the then-Prince Charles in 2014 for his services to criminal justice.
© AlamySir Keir's resignation
Sir Keir Starmer resigned as the leader of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday.
He said he has asked Labour’s governing body to set out a timetable to replace him, beginning on July 9, and ending by the summer recess to "ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September".
He will remain in place until a new leader is chosen, adding that he will do everything he can to ensure a smooth transition.
© Getty ImagesGiving a statement outside 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir said every decision he has made has been about "putting the country I love first".
Becoming visibly emotional, the PM thanked his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, whom he credited as being "his rock". He added that he wants to be the "best dad I can to my beautiful children".
Former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who won a by-election in Makerfield last week and was sworn in as an MP on Monday, is considered the favourite to replace him.
King and Keir
As head of state, King Charles must remain politically neutral on all matters.
However, he still plays an important constitutional role in the appointment of a new prime minister, and will meet him in person to formally tender his resignation during an audience, as is tradition.
© GettySir Keir has praised the King for his eco and social credentials, despite previously being in favour of the abolition of the monarchy.
When Elizabeth II died in 2022, he paid a warm tribute in the Commons to her "glorious" 70 years at the "heart of this nation’s life".
He also spoke of the King’s new reign, hailing his environmental campaigning and commitment to "fairness".
"King Charles III has been a devoted servant of this country his entire life, he has been a powerful voice for fairness, and understood the importance of the environment long before many others," Sir Keir said.
