01of 16From left to right: James Callaghan, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Margaret Thatcher, Harold Macmillan, Queen Elizabeth, Harold Wilson and Ted Heath.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via GettyThroughout her historic 70-year reign,Queen Elizabethworked closely with 15 different prime ministers.While a U.K. monarch’s role is mainly ceremonial these days, the Queen was the one who officially appointed them to the role following a democratic vote.
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From left to right: James Callaghan, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Margaret Thatcher, Harold Macmillan, Queen Elizabeth, Harold Wilson and Ted Heath.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty
Throughout her historic 70-year reign,Queen Elizabethworked closely with 15 different prime ministers.
While a U.K. monarch’s role is mainly ceremonial these days, the Queen was the one who officially appointed them to the role following a democratic vote.
02of 16Winston ChurchillPrince Charles, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Winston Churchill.Central Press/GettyWinston Churchill served as prime minister from 1940 to 1945, then again from 1951 to 1955. He was the first British prime minister the Queen worked with during her reign, when she ascended the throne in 1952.The monarch was quite fond of Churchill and sent him a handwritten letter upon his retirement. In it, she said no one “will ever for me be able to hold the place of my first prime minister, to whom both my husband and I owe so much and for whose wise guidance during the early years of my reign I shall always be so profoundly grateful,” according toYahoo.
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Winston Churchill
Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Winston Churchill.Central Press/Getty
Winston Churchill served as prime minister from 1940 to 1945, then again from 1951 to 1955. He was the first British prime minister the Queen worked with during her reign, when she ascended the throne in 1952.
The monarch was quite fond of Churchill and sent him a handwritten letter upon his retirement. In it, she said no one “will ever for me be able to hold the place of my first prime minister, to whom both my husband and I owe so much and for whose wise guidance during the early years of my reign I shall always be so profoundly grateful,” according toYahoo.
03of 16Anthony EdenAnthony Eden and Queen Elizabeth.PA Images via GettyEden (who served as prime minister from 1955 to 1957) was a popular figure due to his wartime service, and his relationship with the Queen was very formal. There was much discussion of Princess Margaret’s possible marriage to the divorced Peter Townsend in their early meetings, before the Suez Canal crisis in 1956 dominated his tenure.
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Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden and Queen Elizabeth.PA Images via Getty
Eden (who served as prime minister from 1955 to 1957) was a popular figure due to his wartime service, and his relationship with the Queen was very formal. There was much discussion of Princess Margaret’s possible marriage to the divorced Peter Townsend in their early meetings, before the Suez Canal crisis in 1956 dominated his tenure.
04of 16Harold MacmillanQueen Elizabeth and Harold Macmillan.Terry Disney/Central Press/GettyMacmillan (1957 to 1963) was a big fan of the monarchy and once said the Queen was “a great support, because she is the one person you can talk to.” The two also enjoyed sharing political gossip.
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Harold Macmillan
Queen Elizabeth and Harold Macmillan.Terry Disney/Central Press/Getty
Macmillan (1957 to 1963) was a big fan of the monarchy and once said the Queen was “a great support, because she is the one person you can talk to.” The two also enjoyed sharing political gossip.
05of 16Alec Douglas-HomeFrom left to right: James Callaghan, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Margaret Thatcher, Harold Macmillan, Queen Elizabeth, Harold Wilson and Ted Heath.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via GettyBefore Douglas-Home (1963 to 1964) became prime minister, the Queen knew him, as he was a childhood friend of her mother’s.“He was an old friend. They talked about dogs and shooting together. They were both Scottish landowners, the same sort of people, like old school friends,” an aide once said.
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Alec Douglas-Home
Before Douglas-Home (1963 to 1964) became prime minister, the Queen knew him, as he was a childhood friend of her mother’s.
“He was an old friend. They talked about dogs and shooting together. They were both Scottish landowners, the same sort of people, like old school friends,” an aide once said.
06of 16Harold WilsonFrank Barratt/Keystone/GettyWilson served two terms as prime minister: 1964 to 1970 and again 1974 to 1976. Aside from their working relationship, Wilson also had a personal connection to the royal family and sometimes joined them for picnics at Balmoral.
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Harold Wilson
Frank Barratt/Keystone/Getty
Wilson served two terms as prime minister: 1964 to 1970 and again 1974 to 1976. Aside from their working relationship, Wilson also had a personal connection to the royal family and sometimes joined them for picnics at Balmoral.
07of 16Edward HeathEdward Heath and Queen Elizabeth.Keystone/Hulton Archive/GettyHeath (1970 to 1974) and the Queen had their differences. While Heath pushed for U.K.’s entry into the European Economic Community,Queen Elizabethwanted to give preference to the Commonwealth countries where she acted as Head of State. Heath came out on top, with the U.K. entering the European Economic Community in 1973.
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Edward Heath
Edward Heath and Queen Elizabeth.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty
Heath (1970 to 1974) and the Queen had their differences. While Heath pushed for U.K.’s entry into the European Economic Community,Queen Elizabethwanted to give preference to the Commonwealth countries where she acted as Head of State. Heath came out on top, with the U.K. entering the European Economic Community in 1973.
08of 16James CallaghanJames Callaghan and Queen Elizabeth.David Ashdown/Keystone/GettyWhile the two enjoyed a relaxed rapport, Callaghan (1976 to 1979) once said of the Queen’s relationships with her prime ministers, “What one gets is friendliness but not friendship.”
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James Callaghan
James Callaghan and Queen Elizabeth.David Ashdown/Keystone/Getty
While the two enjoyed a relaxed rapport, Callaghan (1976 to 1979) once said of the Queen’s relationships with her prime ministers, “What one gets is friendliness but not friendship.”
09of 16Margaret ThatcherQueen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher.Corbis via GettyThatcher served as British prime minister for a long stint: 1979 to 1990. However, there was still a stiffness between the women.“It was the starchiest relationship. She was deferential, much too deferential. The Queen was not requiring so much,” said one longtime observer, according toThe Daily Beast.A family friend added: “The Queen had some most amusing and well-observed lines about Thatcher.”
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Margaret Thatcher
Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher.Corbis via Getty
Thatcher served as British prime minister for a long stint: 1979 to 1990. However, there was still a stiffness between the women.
“It was the starchiest relationship. She was deferential, much too deferential. The Queen was not requiring so much,” said one longtime observer, according toThe Daily Beast.A family friend added: “The Queen had some most amusing and well-observed lines about Thatcher.”
10of 16John MajorQueen Elizabeth and John Major.Pool Photograph/Corbis/Corbis via GettyServing from 1990 until 1997, Major saw the Queen through both international conflicts such as the Gulf War and more personal matters, such as the divorce betweenPrince Charlesand Princess Diana.
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John Major
Queen Elizabeth and John Major.Pool Photograph/Corbis/Corbis via Getty
Serving from 1990 until 1997, Major saw the Queen through both international conflicts such as the Gulf War and more personal matters, such as the divorce betweenPrince Charlesand Princess Diana.
11of 16Tony BlairTony Blair and Queen Elizabeth.Anwar Hussein/GettyBlair (1997 to 2007) once said that he often confided secrets in the Queen: “I’ve told her a lot of things in my time. You know, everything from Cherie being pregnant with Leo through to, you know, major decisions … because the one thing you know is that she will never divulge anything to anyone.”
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Tony Blair
Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth.Anwar Hussein/Getty
Blair (1997 to 2007) once said that he often confided secrets in the Queen: “I’ve told her a lot of things in my time. You know, everything from Cherie being pregnant with Leo through to, you know, major decisions … because the one thing you know is that she will never divulge anything to anyone.”
12of 16Gordon BrownQueen Elizabeth and Gordon Brown.Tim Graham Photo Library via GettyBlair’s chancellor of the Exchequer took over the reins of government in 2007 until 2010, and the Queen was said to enjoy mimicking Brown’s Scottish accent.
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Gordon Brown
Queen Elizabeth and Gordon Brown.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
Blair’s chancellor of the Exchequer took over the reins of government in 2007 until 2010, and the Queen was said to enjoy mimicking Brown’s Scottish accent.
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David Cameron
Queen Elizabeth and David Cameron.Samir Hussein/WireImage
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Theresa May
Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth.Dominic Lipinski-WPA Pool/Getty Images
15of 16Boris JohnsonPrime Minister Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth.Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/GettyQueen Elizabethand Johnson continued their weekly meetings even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, holding the conversations over the phone.Johnson announced on July 7, 2022 that he would bestepping downfrom the position after three years after losing the confidence of his cabinet.
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Boris Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth.Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty
Queen Elizabethand Johnson continued their weekly meetings even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, holding the conversations over the phone.
Johnson announced on July 7, 2022 that he would bestepping downfrom the position after three years after losing the confidence of his cabinet.
16of 16Liz TrussQueen Elizabeth and British prime minister, Liz Truss, two days before she died.Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/GettyGiving a formal farewell to Johnson and appointing the new prime minister, Liz Truss, on Sept. 6was the Queen’s final public dutybefore she died on Sept. 8, 2022.In a royal first, Truss traveled to Balmoral Castle in Scotland for the appointment, where the Queen traditionally spent her summer. A sourceexplainedthat the decision was made for the audiences to take place at Balmoral to provide certainty for the new prime minister and Johnson’s schedules. The Queen had been experiencingepisodic mobility issues, and they wanted to avoid the issue of alternative arrangements at the last minute had the plan been for the monarch to travel to London or Windsor Castle.
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Liz Truss
Queen Elizabeth and British prime minister, Liz Truss, two days before she died.Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty
Giving a formal farewell to Johnson and appointing the new prime minister, Liz Truss, on Sept. 6was the Queen’s final public dutybefore she died on Sept. 8, 2022.
In a royal first, Truss traveled to Balmoral Castle in Scotland for the appointment, where the Queen traditionally spent her summer. A sourceexplainedthat the decision was made for the audiences to take place at Balmoral to provide certainty for the new prime minister and Johnson’s schedules. The Queen had been experiencingepisodic mobility issues, and they wanted to avoid the issue of alternative arrangements at the last minute had the plan been for the monarch to travel to London or Windsor Castle.
source: people.com
