The Queen officially appoints Theresa May as Britain’s second female Prime Minister
Theresa May is officially Britain’s new prime minister after accepting an invitation to govern from Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday.
The now ex-prime minister David Cameron had an audience with the queen on Wednesday evening and tendered his resignation as prime minister.
May followed the ritual of “kissing the hand” of the Queen upon her appointment as the country’s first female leader since Margaret Thatcher, the prime minster minister from 1979 to 1990.
A statement issued by the Palace read: "The Queen received in audience the Right Honourable Theresa May MP this evening and requested her to form a new Administration.
"The Right Honourable Theresa May accepted Her Majesty's offer and Kissed Hands upon her appointed as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury."
In her first speech as prime minister, outside the doors of number 10, May said she would lead a "one-nation" government dedicated to social justice and promised to make "Britain a country that works for everyone."
The 59-year-old, who won the job by default after her other contender pulled out of the race, has a tough time ahead of her as she leads the negotiations for Britain’s exit from the European Union.
She said Britain would "rise to the challenge" and forge "a bold new positive role" in the world.
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