A right royal diary clash: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer miss England's Euro 24 bore draw with Slovenia to attend lavish Buckingham Palace banquet for Japanese emperor - and the Labour leader gets seated next to King's right-hand-man days before election
Many England fans may be wishing they had had an excuse to miss England's Euro 24 bore draw against Slovenia last night, but none will top that given by Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
The Tory Prime Minister and his Labour opponent are known to be big football fans who would have been keen to catch the Three Lions on TV.
But while Gareth Southgate's side toiled to a goalless draw in Cologne, the two top politicians swapped white England shirts for white tie in the slightly more glitzy surroundings of Buckingham Palace.
They joined King Charles at a lavish state banquet in honour of the visiting Japanese emperor, along with their wives Akshata Murty and Victoria Starmer.
Many had thought that the Japanese visit would have been postponed due to the election, but it has gone ahead. No10 confirmed Mr Sunak was at the Palace when the game took place.
In what may be seen as a politically important detail, it was Sir Keir who had the better seat.
It was not quite the royal box at Wembley but the Labour leader, widely thought to be heading for power next Thursday, was sat next to the King's right-hand man Sir Clive Alderton.
Mr Sunak, in contrast, was sat next to a computer scientist from Southampton University.
While Gareth Southgate's side toiled to a goalless draw in Cologne, the two top politicians swapped white England shirts for white tie in the slightly more glitzy surroundings of Buckingham Palace.
They joined King Charles at a lavish state banquet in honour of the visiting Japanese emperor, along with their wives Akshata Murty and Victoria Starmer.
Don't mention the score: England toiled to a 0-0 draw in Cologne last night and progress to the last 16, but it was far from exciting.
Sir Clive is the principal private secretary to the King and Queen, and the former diplomat is the couple's most important aide.
The three-day state visit is the first time in living memory a foreign head of state has toured the UK as the nation prepared to go to the polls.
Also among the guests were a number of senior members of the Cabinet including Kemi Badenoch, along with YouTuber Chris Broad, whose videos about life in Japan have proved a hit.
The three-day state visit is the first time in living memory a foreign head of state has toured the UK as the nation prepared to go to the polls.
The close bond between the UK and Japan was praised by the King in a speech during the banquet, with Charles telling Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako (pictured, with the Queen) their 'shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law' were more important than ever.
The close bond between the UK and Japan was praised by the King in a speech during the banquet, with Charles telling Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako their 'shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law' were more important than ever.
The King also spoke about his own personal connection with Japan and its head of state, telling the banquet guests how they both shared a passion for mountain climbing, and had spent time together at the opera and fly fishing.
Charles said in his speech: 'At the core of our partnership is a close friendship; one based on a mutual understanding of the importance of international rules and global institutions, forged from the lessons of history, including its darkest years.
'Today, as we face a world in which these principles are ever more challenged, our shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law are more important than ever.'
When the Prince of Wales, Charles regularly highlighted the need to combat climate change and he went on to say: 'Our talented scientists are also working together on research and technology to help address some of the most pressing challenges that face our planet.
Also among the guests were a number of senior members of the Cabinet including Kemi Badenoch, along with YouTuber Chris Broad, whose videos about life in Japan have proved a hit.
'The seriousness and urgency of the climate and nature crises we face cannot be overstated, our generation owes it to those who follow to face it with vigour, determination and creativity.'
A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the emperor and empress's visit would not be a political one and it was hoped it would forge 'friendly relations across generations' between Japan's imperial family and the British royal family.
In 2017, a Spanish state visit by King Felipe VI was quickly rescheduled - after an agreement between the late Queen and King Felipe - because the date clashed with a snap election in the UK.
Among the royal guests at the banquet were the Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, but missing was the Princess Royal who spent a second night in hospital after suffering minor head injuries and concussion after she was reportedly kicked by a horse on her Gatcombe Park estate on Sunday.
