BBC and ITV embarrassed after making major blunder during Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting with King Charles

BBC and ITV presenters made an embarrassing error in describing how Sir Keir Starmer would meet the monarch today.

Labour won 412 seats in the general election, easily surpassing the 326-seat threshold required to form a majority – and crushing the Conservatives’ dismal 121 seats.

After the victory, Sir Keir went to Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles, who asked him to form a new administration.

But two TV news presenters made the same mistake, claiming the Labour leader would “meet the Queen” at the majestic building.

Viewers joked on social media that the BBC and ITV journalists must have suffered a “long night” to make such a mistake.

Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC’s former political editor, said: “He’s going to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen – may the King forgive me.”

An ITV presenter made a similar mistake, saying Sir Keir and his wife were “being welcomed to see the Queen – to see the King, forgive me”.

After a historic election night:

• Keir Starmer has become Britain’s next prime minister after Labour won 412 seats amid a brutal Conservative sweep.
• He promised to lead a Labour party based on “public service” in his first speech as prime minister to a cheering crowd at 10 Downing Street.
• Sir Keir will now appoint his cabinet as he presses ahead with his plan for change.
• Rishi Sunak had earlier admitted defeat on the steps of Downing Street and apologised to the nation for his party’s failures.
• Conservative Party bigwigs including former prime minister Liz Truss and former defence secretary Grant Shapps lost seats after a nightmare night for the Tories.
• He was followed by House Leader Penny Mordaunt, one of eight Cabinet ministers to lose their seats.
• Nigel Farage’s Reform Party won a record four seats, taking votes from the Conservatives.
• Conservative defector Lee Anderson won the first Reform seat, followed by Farage, Richard Tice and Rupert Lowe.
• Sir Keir’s predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, who is now running as an independent, also retained Islington North.
• All eyes are now on our new Prime Minister, with Piers Morgan telling our election show Never Mind The Ballots that Sir Keir MUST deliver real change after the Tory disaster.

The statement comes as Sir Keir pledged to rebuild Britain “brick by brick” as he addressed the nation for the first time as prime minister.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, the Labour leader called on everyone to join his mission of “national renewal”.

Appealing to those who did not vote for his party yesterday, he said: “Whether you voted Labour or not, in fact, especially if you didn’t, I say to you straight: my government will serve you.”

Sir Keir, who has a majority of 174 seats, acknowledged that changing a country is not “like flicking a switch” and that it “will take time”.

But he added: “I have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. I have no doubt that we will rebuild Britain by creating wealth in every community.”

The new Prime Minister, watched by his beloved wife Victoria, also invited the country to join him in his mission.

He said: “With respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service in the mission of national renewal.

“Our work is urgent and we begin it today.”