Andy Burnham has officially become the United Kingdom's new prime minister after King Charles III invited him to form a government during a meeting at Buckingham Palace on Monday.
Unlike countries such as Australia, British prime ministers are not sworn into office. Instead, they meet the monarch in a centuries-old ceremony known as "kissing hands," which today is symbolic and involves a private conversation rather than the literal gesture.
Burnham, 56, arrived at Buckingham Palace shortly after noon local time, with the audience taking place in the Chinese Dining Room. He becomes the UK's seventh prime minister in just 10 years.
A former Labour MP, Burnham most recently served as Mayor of Greater Manchester before making a return to national politics, winning a parliamentary by-election last month.
He succeeds Sir Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party secured a landslide general election victory two years ago but whose popularity later declined across much of the country.
Before leaving office, Starmer delivered an emotional farewell outside 10 Downing Street, declaring, "My work here is done."
Reflecting on his time in office, he added, "I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything we have achieved."
Starmer also wished his successor well, saying, "I wish him every success; he has my full support."
He later travelled to Buckingham Palace to formally tender his resignation to King Charles, arriving about 40 minutes before Burnham's audience with the monarch.
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