King Charles III appoints Sunak new PM, orders him to form government

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Britain's King Charles III selected new Conservative leader Rishi Sunak as the country's second Prime Minister on Tuesday, shortly after accepting Liz Truss' resignation, and ordered him to form a government, Sky News reported.

Buckingham Palace released photos of Charles shaking Sunak's hand when he appointed him as Britain's first non-white Prime Minister.

Sunak was elected leader of the UK Conservative Party on Monday. After House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt announced her withdrawal from the race, he became the sole contender. He was sworn in as Prime Minister following an encounter with the King at Buckingham Palace.

Following his meeting, the new Prime Minister will return to London and speak outside Downing Street. Sunak became the first Prime Minister selected by King Charles III and the third Prime Minister of the United Kingdom this year.

'Unite or die'

Rishi Sunak warned his Tory counterparts it was time to "unite or die” as he readies himself to become the first person of color to assume the position of the UK's prime minister.

With his victory partly anticipated by his allies, Sunak told Tory MPs he would "put an end to the Conservative psychodrama" and "prioritize policies not personalities."

Following weeks of havoc within the Tory leadership and the British press, particularly in light of Boris Johnson's irresponsible handling of sexual misconduct cases and Liz Truss' desolate mini-budget, Sunak won the contest to replace Liz Truss yesterday, with a cabinet reshuffle scheduled to take place on Tuesday. 

This comes after UK Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned on October 20, less than two months after being appointed as Conservative Party leader and head of the UK government.

"I recognize though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate, on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party," Truss told reporters, as broadcast by Sky News.

Truss went on to say that she would stay in office until her replacement was picked, noting that a new party leader would be voted next week.