It’s the beginning of one of the most important relationships that Sir Keir Starmer will form during his premiership.
Cabinet colleagues, members of staff may come and go – but the monarch is seen as a constant.
Follow general election fallout live
The secrecy around the interactions between the King and his prime minister is partly what will make it so significant for both men.
Former prime ministers have talked about the solace they have found in the audience room during those weekly meetings – a place where they can share their every thought, where they find a listening ear in the monarch, and a voice of experience.
In exchange the King expects discretion.
It’s certainly not the first time the two men have met.
In recent weeks alone there were the D-Day commemorations and the Japanese state visit.
And in 2014, the then Prince Charles tapped him on the shoulder with a sword as he knighted Sir Keir Starmer.
Sir Keir Starmer was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 2014 by the then Prince of Wales
The new prime minister has admitted that as a young man he did call for the abolition of the monarchy, what he now describes as youthful indiscretions.
That put to one side, you can’t help but wonder whether we’ll have a King and prime minister more aligned and politically in sync on their views.
Read more:
Who is your local MP now? Find out here
Labour’s landslide in maps and charts
Analysis: Was this a ‘loveless landslide’?
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Tap here
The environment, support for young people, housing, all matters it’s no secret the monarch cares deeply about after his years as heir.
And of course, the stability of the country.
But despite the personal warmth he will no doubt have shown Sir Keir in that first audience – the King is good at making people feel welcome – it is a skill of the sovereign not to publicly show favouritism.
Read more:
Starmer: ‘Our work begins today’
Labour won – what happens next?
Labour’s journey back to power
We expect next week we may see the start of their first weekly audience – but only the beginning, then the doors will be closed on the cameras.
After today’s rare insight into how our political democracy and our constitutional monarchy must work in tandem, the monarch will once again continue his position of political neutrality, the public performance of the start of that important relationship now complete.
