Liz Truss is set to hold the first of her confirmed head-to-heads with world leaders as they make the trip to the UK for the Queen’s funeral. The Prime Minister will speak to her counterparts from New Zealand and Australia on Saturday, with the conversations framed by No 10 as chats rather than formal bilateral meetings.
Downing Street suggested they would be an opportunity for condolences over the Queen’s death, with politics likely to come up. The first of the weekend’s meetings will be based at the Government’s Chevening country residence, rather than Chequers, which is said to be undergoing routine maintenance work after Boris Johnson’s exit.
Ms Truss will see New Zealand’s premier Jacinda Ardern and Australian leader Anthony Albanese today. Ms Ardern has said the Queen’s death and new King will be the “focus of conversation”, with the pair also likely to discuss Ukraine and the UK’s free trade agreement with New Zealand.
