Downing Street apologises for two parties as Queen mourned
The alleged parties were held in Number 10 on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral
Last updated 27th May 2022
Downing Street has apologised to Buckingham Palace after it emerged parties were reportedly held in Number 10 the day before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral last year.
Two gatherings reportedly took place at Downing Street, with the Prime Minister's former director of communications James Slack apologising for the "anger and hurt" one of the events - a leaving do held for him - had caused.
The events were held in April last year, while the country was in a period of national mourning, it was reported. The Prime Minister was said to have been away from Downing Street at the time.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister confirmed No 10 has said sorry to the Palace.
The spokesman said: "It is deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning and No 10 has apologised to the Palace.
"You heard from the PM this week, he's recognised No 10 should be held to the highest standards, and take responsibility for things we did not get right."
The day after the events on April 16, 2021, the Queen attended her husband Philip's funeral wearing a face mask and socially distanced from her family at Windsor Castle, in line with Covid restrictions.
"Whilst she mourned, Number 10 partied"
Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:
"The Queen sitting alone, mourning the loss of her husband, was the defining image of lockdown. Not because she is the Queen, but because she was just another person, mourning alone like too many others.
"Whilst she mourned, Number 10 partied. Johnson must go."
His comments were echoed by Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, who wrote on Twitter:
"The Queen sat alone in mourning like so many did at the time with personal trauma & sacrifice to keep to the rules in the national interest.
"I have no words for the culture & behaviours at number 10 and the buck stops with the PM."
Fran Hall, from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said:
"If your neighbours had behaved like this, you'd have been disgusted. For the people running the country to do it and then lie about it, shows a complete disdain for the general public.
"We shared the same pain of grieving in isolation as the Queen did. And she must be just as sickened as we are at hearing this. Sadly, instead of doing the decent thing and resigning, we can expect the Prime Minister to continue shamefully lying to our faces.
"The Conservative MPs that are keeping him in power disgrace their country."
Reported 30 letters submitted in vote of no confidence
The news came as Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, was the latest to publicly announce he had submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister on Thursday night.
He was the fifth MP to say he had written to Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee, calling for a vote on the PM's future as head of the party.
It's reported that as many as 30 letters have been submitted so far.
A total of 54 are needed to trigger a vote.
A blow was also landed on the PM from the Sutton Coldfield Conservatives, an association in a safe Tory seat, which reportedly passed a motion calling for Mr Johnson to stand down.
Senor official Sue Gray is examining a series of parties and gatherings held in No 10 and Whitehall in 2020 while coronavirus restrictions were in force.
Party to mark the departures Mr Johnson's former director of communications and one of the PM's personal photographers
The new allegations that two Downing Street parties took place the week after Philip's death, and on the eve of his funeral, emerged on Thursday evening.
The Telegraph reported that advisers and civil servants gathered after work for two separate events on April 16 2021.
They were to mark the departures of James Slack, Mr Johnson's former director of communications, and one of the PM's personal photographers, the newspaper said.
The Telegraph cited a No 10 spokesperson as saying Mr Johnson was not in Downing Street that day. He is said to have been at Chequers.
It reported accounts from witnesses who said alcohol was drunk and guests danced to music.
The two events are said to have started separately and later merged.
At the time, Government guidance stated:
"You must not socialise indoors except with your household or support bubble. You can meet outdoors, including in gardens, in groups of six people or two households."
A Downing Street spokesperson said of Mr Slack's event:
"On this individual's last day he gave a farewell speech to thank each team for the work they had done to support him, both those who had to be in the office for work and on a screen for those working from home."
The spokesperson offered no further comment on the allegations that a farewell gathering was held for the PM's personal photographer.
The Government's second apology this week
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister apologised for attending a "bring your own booze" party in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, during the first coronavirus lockdown, but insisted he believed it was a work event and could "technically" have been within the rules.
Members of the Government urged his critics to wait for the findings of Ms Gray's inquiry before passing judgment after Tory MPs began publicly calling for him to quit.
Cabinet ministers defended Mr Johnson after his apology on Wednesday, but the late interventions of Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Chancellor Rishi Sunak - both tipped as potential successors - did little to instil confidence in his future.
The Metropolitan Police indicated any investigation by them would depend on evidence unearthed in the Gray inquiry.
The prospect of a police investigation had led to the possibility that the inquiry could be paused, but a Scotland Yard statement said:
"The Met has ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office in relation to this inquiry.
"If the inquiry identifies evidence of behaviour that is potentially a criminal offence it will be passed to the Met for further consideration."
Everything happening for the Queen's platinum Jubilee:
Thursday 2nd June: Trooping the Colour
To mark the Queen's official birthday, over 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians are coming together in what the official Royal Family website describes as "a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare". The event will consist of a musical parade where soldiers will salute the Queen. The traditional march then closes with a fly-past by the Royal Air Force, which the Royal Family typically watch from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Thursday 2nd June: Platinum Jubilee Beacons
At Buckingham Palace, the Principal Beacon (which traditionally has been lit to mark the Queen's jubilee), will be 'lit' on Thursday. This jubilee beacon however is set to be a little different to previous jubilee celebrations, as a large living tree sculpture by British designer Thomas Heatherwick is being used. The lighting installation within this structure will act as the lighting of the principal beacon to reflect the Royal Family's commitment to environmental causes. A Palace spokeswoman has said on the sculpture: "It's 21 metres high – that's the height of three giraffes." Throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, other beacons are being lit in celebration.
Friday 3rd June: Service of Thanksgiving
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen's reign will be held at St Paul's Cathedral. This is in keeping with tradition as ever since 1897, the cathedral has hosted Jubilee services. St Paul's are also hosting an exhibition exploring the history of Jubilee celebrations at the cathedral across three centuries. This has been open to the public since May 25th.
Saturday 4th June: Platinum Party at the Palace
On Saturday, big names Diana Ross and George Ezra are set to perform at a concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the Queen's reign. Live coverage will be broadcast on BBC One and will be hosted by Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp and co-presented by Huw Edwards, Clare Balding, AJ Odudu and Anita Rani.
Sunday 5th June: Big Jubilee Lunch
Street parties are being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. This will mark the end of the bank holiday. It is also the day that pubs stop opening until 1am, giving everyone a reason to relax and have an early night.
Sunday 5th June: Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Performers will come together in London to tell the story of the Queen's reign through a pageant. This will include a "River of Hope" section made up of 200 silk flags that will make its way through The Mall, appearing like a moving river. In 2012, there was a similar parade of 670 boats on the Tideway of the River Thames in London as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
July: The Royal Collection Trust
Three displays marking the Queen's accession to the throne, the Coronation and Jubilees will be put on at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
12th-15th May: Platinum Jubilee Celebration Performance
In celebration of the Queen's 70 years on the throne, more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers took part in a 90-minute show taking the Windsor Castle audience through history right from Elizabeth I to the present day.