The Queen and her Prime Ministers in office for seven decades on the throne Bedford News

In the first of our two-part Jubilee coverage, we shine the spotlight on the Queen’s Prime Ministers

It is the UK’s most important constitutional relationship and during her incredible reign the Queen has seen 14 Prime Ministers.

From Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson, how have the dynamics of the relationship changed over the years?

And, are prime ministers really friends or enemies of Her Majesty? Steve Cain has all the answers.

Winston Churchill, Conservative (1951-1955) – When the Queen ascended the throne 70 years ago, there was already a Prime Minister in office – Winston Churchill. Although he offered a steady hand to help her find her feet during the early years of her reign, the young queen also knew her own mind and they had their differences.

In 1953, she was firm in her decision to televise her coronation ceremony, despite Churchill’s objection. They also differed over the future of Britain’s role in the world; Churchill wanted to retain Britain’s world supremacy, by force if necessary, while Elizabeth favored a confederation of states – the Commonwealth.

However, there was a mutual respect and tenderness between the two men and it is reported that their meetings were “punctuated with peals of laughter”.

Anthony Eden, Tory (1955-1957) – The Queen’s relationship with ‘the starchy Sir Anthony Eden’ is said to have been more formal than that shared with Churchill. His tenure was marred by the Suez Crisis, in which British forces were forced to withdraw from Egypt.

Harold Macmillan, Curator (1957-1963) – He had a reverence for the monarchy, which served him well with the Queen, and there was a friendlier atmosphere between the two than with Eden.

Although their dating was always respectful, the two enjoyed political gossip.

Alec Douglas-Home, curator (1963-1964) – A shared love of dogs, outdoor pursuits and country life earned Sir Alec Douglas-Home the sovereign’s approval.

Harold Wilson, Labor (1964-70 and 1974-76) – The Queen’s first Labor Prime Minister was, at first, cause for concern. Supposedly a “leftist” with plans for a social revolution, Wilson was actually quite a monarchist.

Apparently “they got along like a house on fire” and their audiences grew longer and longer, with the Queen enjoying a gin and Wilson a brandy at the end of each meeting.

Edward Heath, Tory (1970-1974) – Heath apparently wasn’t particularly good at small talk or dealing with women, which meant he didn’t have a positive impact on the Queen. Their weekly hearings have been described as “freezing”.

James Callaghan, Labor (1976-79) – Callaghan enjoyed a relaxed relationship with the Queen. However, he served as Prime Minister during a period of political turmoil and his government was eventually overthrown by numerous strikes and social unrest.

Margaret Thatcher, Conservative (1979-90) – Britain’s first female Prime Minister also happened to be the Queen’s longest-serving Prime Minister.

Although Thatcher was said to have a deep respect for the Queen, she wanted to introduce dramatic social reforms, some of which worried the Queen. Apparently the Queen called Thatcher “that woman” and found her policies to be “indifferent, confrontational and socially confrontational”.

But, over time, the relationship between the two women has improved dramatically and the Queen is said to have been “very upset” with the way the Conservative Party deposed Thatcher.

John Major, Conservative (1990-1997) – Major served as Prime Minister during a very turbulent and difficult time for the monarchy. The worst year of the Queen’s reign by far was 1992 and she dubbed it her ‘annus horribilis’.

First, three of her four children’s marriages collapsed and then, in November, her beloved Windsor Castle caught fire. Major loved the Queen and offered her support, implementing unprecedented changes to keep the public on her side.

A new financial settlement was negotiated between the Royal Family and the Government which saw the Queen and Prince Philip start paying income tax and Buckingham Palace was opened to the public.

Tony Blair, Labor (1997-2007) – New Labour’s love of informality, modernization and ‘spin’ concerned the Queen and her relationship with Blair began with some suspicion.

Things got worse when, just three months into her role, Princess Diana was killed in a car accident while the Queen was on holiday at Balmoral. Blair seized the opportunity to lead the nation’s grief in the monarch’s absence and called Diana a ‘people’s princess’. The Queen felt this characterization was unfair, making Diana an icon and alienating Elizabeth from her subjects.

Gordon Brown, Labor (2007-10) – Although his rough manners contrasted with Blair’s meekness, Brown was said to have had a good but formal relationship with the Queen. However, his government was unhappy, and after only three years he was out.

David Cameron, Conservative (2010-16) – Cameron’s tenure has been defined by the future identity of the UK, both domestically and internationally.

Following the result of Scotland’s independence referendum in 2014, which saw Scotland decide to stay in the UK, Cameron made a thoughtless comment about the Queen’s reaction to the result, saying ” she purred all the way.”

He apologized to the Queen for the offence. In June 2016, a slim majority of 52% of Britons voted to leave the European Union and Cameron, who favored retention and did not expect to be defeated, resigned.

Theresa May, Tory (2016-19) – Burdened with the difficult task of making Brexit happen, the Queen’s second female Prime Minister had an unenviable task.

May had a good working relationship with the monarch and the queen reportedly looked forward to their weekly meetings. Ultimately, however, Brexit derailed May’s tenure and the Queen was “sad” to see her go.

Boris Johnson, Tory (from 2019) – Johnson’s relationship with the Queen got off to a rocky start when he asked her to prorogue Parliament – a move the Supreme Court ruled illegal. He apologized to the queen.

More recently he was found guilty of breaking the law and given a £50 fixed penalty notice for attending a party to celebrate his birthday in June 2020, while indoor social gatherings were banned in due to COVID-19.

It was just one of many social gatherings that took place in and around Downing Street during the lockdown, two of which were even held on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021.

Downing Street issued an apology to the Queen, saying it was “deeply regrettable” that the events took place during “a time of national mourning”.