Nigel Farage has revealed that he has had past disagreements with the King, but they now share light-hearted exchanges, as he attended a reception for newly elected MPs and Members of the House of Lords at Buckingham Palace.
The Reform UK leader was among the political figures invited to the event on Wednesday, which was hosted by the King and Queen and attended by senior royals, including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Reflecting on his interactions with the monarch, Mr Farage said he has met the King “many times” and was expecting “interesting” exchanges given their previous disagreements, particularly on issues such as climate change.
“He came to the European Parliament many years ago and gave a big speech to which he got a standing ovation,” Mr Farage recalled.
“Apart from me, I sat there with arms folded. So we’ve had a laugh about it ever since. It’s not nasty, it’s climate change and stuff like that.”
Praise for the duke and duchess of Edinburgh
During the reception, Mr Farage also met the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, praising their commitment to royal duties.
“They’re charming, and they do a lot of the heavy lifting,” he said, referring to the significant workload the couple have taken on in recent years.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the royal family, noting: “It’s been a difficult few years. Wonder boy and wonder girl disappear off to America, the Queen dies, the King’s not been well, Andrew’s not in the public eye, and Princess Anne is 74 or 75 or whatever she is.
“So they’re doing a lot of the heavy lifting. And I think doing it very well.”
Mr Farage described his exchange with Prince Edward as “a laugh about life” and expressed appreciation for the reception.
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A return to Buckingham palace
The veteran politician reflected on his previous visit to the palace, recalling an event from his days as an MEP.
“It’s really funny being at this, because this is not the first one of these I’ve been to,” he said.
“I came to a reception for new MEPs. So we’re going back 26 years, and there were about 30 of us, and that was with the Queen and, as he was then, the Duke of Edinburgh.”
His return to the palace comes amid a resurgence in his political career, with Reform UK making significant gains in the recent general election.
While Mr Farage has often been outspoken in his criticisms of the establishment, his comments suggest a more relaxed rapport with the royal family, even as his political stance remains firm.
His meeting with the King underscores the evolving relationship between the monarchy and Britain’s political figures, as Reform UK continues to shape the country’s political landscape.
