James Cleverly Denies The Tories Are Politicising The Monarchy

However, on Tuesday Cleverly argued King Charles’ involvement was “not unusual”.

The foreign secretary told LBC’s Nick Ferrari: “I genuinely don’t understand that argument.

“The other week president Zelenskyy came to the UK and, as a senior international guest, he had an audience with his majesty the king.

“Ursula von der Leyen is a very senior international representative. It is therefore not unusual as part of our hospitality to international guests to facilitate a meeting.

“It was our invitation for Ursula von der Leyen to come to the UK to finalise this deal with the prime minister. Of course that was a conversation we had with the palace.

“The final decision on the availability of his majesty is with the palace.”

The row rumbles on after Sunak unveiled a fresh Northern Ireland Brexit deal struck with the EU.

The prime minister promised the new deal would be a “turning point” for the region after years of post-Brexit tensions.

The new agreement, dubbed the Windsor Framework, removes barriers on trade across the Irish Sea and hands a “veto” to politicians in Stormont on EU law.

The Democratic Unionist Party [DUP] and Tory backbenchers are now studying the details of the complex set of arrangements.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has welcomed “significant progress” even as he warned that “there remain key issues of concern” regarding the deal.

The view of the party will be crucial, if the deal is to help restore powersharing at Stormont.