Saturday morning, Jeremy Corbyn was invited to attend the Accession Council for the King, but he did not show up.
As a former party leader and current member of the Privy Council, he would have had the right to attend automatically.
Yesterday evening, he was not present and did not reply to demands for comment.
Jeremy Corbyn was invited to the King’s Accession Council, however he did not attend.
Mr. Corbyn, Opposition Leader from 2015 to 2020, is a lifelong republican.
In 1991, he advocated a referendum to replace the Queen with an elected president.
When Tony Blair was in office, Mr. Corbyn presented him with a petition demanding that the Royal Family be expelled from Buckingham Palace and relocated to more modest quarters.
When asked in 2019 if ‘the Monarchy is fit for purpose,’ he responded that it required’some modification.
However, upon the death of the Queen, Mr. Corbyn tweeted, “My thoughts are with the Queen’s family as they adjust to their personal loss, as well as those here and around the world who will grieve her passing.”
He said that he had “enjoyed talking with her about our kids, gardens, and jam-making.” She may rest in peace.
In 2015, despite his anti-monarchist sentiments, Mr. Corbyn was appointed to the Privy Council.
He was required to swear to honor the Queen and not betray state secrets, but he allegedly refused to kneel before her.
In 2017, his advisers disputed that he had disrespected the Queen by failing to bow upon her arrival at the State Opening of Parliament.
Mr. Corbyn stood next to Theresa May while she bowed, but he remained standing.
His advisers maintained that protocol required the Speaker and officials to bow on behalf of the members of Congress.
Mr. Corbyn was previously accused of lacking patriotism because he did not sing the national anthem during a memorial service.
During the 2015 Battle of Britain ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral, he was photographed standing calmly with his hands clasped and clutching his order of service while others sang “God Save the Queen.”
Later, Mr. Corbyn argued that he had not purposely declined to perform the national anthem, but had been lost in thought.
Saturday, Labour leader Keir Starmer swore allegiance to King Charles III and took the oath.
According to a government source, all current and previous leaders of the two major parties who are serving as privy counsellors were invited to the Accession Council.
Six previous prime ministers were in attendance, including Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair, and Sir John Major.
In addition to members of the Cabinet and a number of privy counsellors, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, and the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford were present.
Six previous prime ministers attended the proclamation of the king: Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair, and Sir John Major.