Ursula von der Leyen will meet with the King this afternoon as she discusses changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol in Windsor with the prime minister, Sky News understands.

A palace spokesperson said: “The king is pleased to meet any world leader if they are visiting Britain and it is the government’s advice that he should do so.”

The EU Commission president is in the UK to hold talks with Rishi Sunak with both sides closing in on securing an enhanced Brexit deal.

Sky News earlier reported King Charles was lined up by Number 10 to meet Ms von der Leyen on Saturday, but the meeting was called off.

Final talks on Brexit deal – politics latest

One source close to the negotiations said on the weekend that the King’s involvement was definitely an attempt to sell the protocol domestically.

However, other government sources are deeply concerned that this politicises the new King even before his coronation.

Former cabinet minister and leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News: “If there were a plan to bring the King in before there is domestic political agreement, it would border on constitutional impropriety.”

Other parties said even thinking of drawing the King into the negotiations was questionable and condemned the move.

Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle said: “I do not know how a thought of involving the King could pass somebody’s mind and reach it to their mouth before they realise that this is a very very unwise policy to choose because it has constitutional implications.”

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