Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
New UK PM Keir Starmer kneels down in front of King Charles during the swearing in ceremony.
Fact
Old photograph showing Starmer receiving knighthood by King Charles, the then Prince of Wales.
Keir Starmer replaced Conservative’s Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister of the UK after the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the recently concluded general elections. The Labour Party secured a clear majority with 412 seats out of a total 650, and the Conservatives were reduced to 120.
Now, a photograph of Starmer with King Charles III has grabbed social media attention. In the photograph, the new UK PM can be seen kneeling in front of the Monarch who can be seen placing a sword on his shoulder. Those sharing the photograph have linked it to Starmer’s recent appointment as the UK PM.
X user @ZafarShawGipSye shared the photograph with the caption, “Labour Party leader being sworn in as UK’s Prime Minister by King Charles.” Newschecker, however, found that the photograph is old, and unrelated to Starmer’s recent appointment as the new UK PM.
Multiple others on X and Facebook shared the image questioning, “Why does a democratically elected national leader kneel to a hereditary emperor?.”
The caption insinuates that the photo was taken after Starmer’s victory in the recent UK elections.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
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Fact Check/Verification
A TinEye search on the viral image led us to stock photo website Alamy. The same photograph was listed on the website with the caption, “Former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Keir Starmer from London is made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath by the Prince of Wales during an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.” The website detailed that the photograph was taken in London in 2014 by Yui Mok.
We also found an X post by photographer Yui Mok, dated July 5, 2024, with the same image, along with other photos of the UK King with Starmer. The post stated, “How time flies! Ten years ago I photographed former Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer being knighted by the then Prince of Wales. Today, I captured King Charles III inviting Sir Keir Starmer to become Prime Minister, following Labour’s #GeneralElections2024 victory.”
A recent BBC profile feature on Keir Starmer also featured the viral photograph with the caption “Sir Keir was knighted in 2014.” The report further added, “He was knighted in 2014, in recognition for his role as Director of Public Prosecutions, the most senior criminal prosecutor in England and Wales.”
A UK government release titled ‘The New Year Honours List 2014 – Higher Awards’ also listed Starmer under the ‘Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)’ category.
Detailing the ceremony, the official website of the UK’s Royal Family stated, “The King (or a member of the Royal Family acting on his behalf) confers knighthoods in Britain, either at a public investiture or privately. The ceremony involves the ceremonial dubbing of the knight by The King, and the presentation of insignia. During the knighting ceremony, the knight-elect kneels on their right knee in front of The King or member of the Royal Family on a special knighting-stool. The King then dubs the knight by laying a bare sword blade on the knight’s right shoulder, then the left. The King then awards the knight with their insignia.”
The same can be seen in the viral photograph. Hence, an old image showing Starmer receiving knighthood has been falsely linked to his swearing-in ceremony as the new Prime Minister of the UK.
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What Happens After A Party Wins Elections In The UK?
“If an incumbent Prime Minister’s party wins an overall majority in a general election they continue in office, although by custom they will seek an audience with the Monarch,” stated the UK Parliament website. However, in case a different party wins a majority, the incumbent PM resigns, and the Monarch then invites the winning party’s leader to form a government.
The incoming Prime Minister visits the palace to meet the monarch. “Only the Monarch and incoming premier are present during this audience. The Monarch appoints a Prime Minister under the royal prerogative, which means it does not have a statutory basis. The Monarch does so by asking the new Prime Minister to form an administration, to which they usually respond yes,” stated the website.
Adding, “There is also no kissing of hands, although that phrase is used to describe the process. This used to occur but has fallen into abeyance. Instead, an incoming male premier will bow and shake hands with the Monarch, and a female premier will curtsy. In recent years this moment has been photographed for the media. There are no other formalities.”
“Having accepted this “commission” to form a government, there follows a brief exchange between the Monarch and their new Prime Minister.The new Prime Minister again shakes hands with the Monarch and bows or curtsies before being shown out by an equerry,” it stated.
Keir Starmer visited King Charles, and was formally appointed as the Prime Minister of the UK on July 5, after sweeping the recently held general election. Buckingham Palace also released footage of this meeting. “Labour leader Keir Starmer on Friday accepted the request of King Charles III to form a government after his party’s landslide victory. In a ceremony known as the “kissing of hands,” Starmer officially became U.K. prime minister,” stated an AP report.
A photograph of their meeting was also shared by the official Instagram account of the UK Royal Family on July 5, stating, “The King received in Audience The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP today and requested him to form a new Administration. Sir Keir accepted His Majesty’s offer and was appointed Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.”
Also Read: Social Media Users Fall For Satire Article On Hotstar Winning Streaming Rights To Ambani Wedding
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the viral photo showing new UK Pm Keir Starmer kneeling in front of King Charles is old.
Result: False
Sources
Alamy
X Post By Yui Mok, Dated July 5, 2024
Report By BBC, Dated May 23, 2024
Official Website Of The Royal Family
Official Website Of UK Parliament
YouTube Video By AP, Dated July 5, 2024
Instagram Post By @theroyalfamily, Dated July 5, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
