KEIR Starmer has been reprimanded by the Speaker of the House of Commons for bringing up the Queen during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).
Lindsay Hoyle told the Labour leader that "we normally would not, and quite rightly, mention the royal family" adding that "we don't get into discussion on the royal family".
Starmer scolded Boris Johnson for allegedly partying during lockdown while the Queen sat socially distanced and wearing a face mask at her husband's funeral.
Starmer said: "I know he's not going well Prime Minister but look on the bright side: at least the staff at number 10 know how to pack a suitcase.
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"Mr Speaker, last year Her Majesty the Queen sat alone when she marked the passing of the man she'd been married to for 73 years.
"She followed the rules of the country that she leads. On the eve of that funeral, a suitcase was filled with booze and wheeled into Downing Street. A DJ played and staff partied late into the night.
"The Prime Minister has been forced to hand an apology to Her Majesty the Queen.
"Isn't he ashamed that he didn't hand in his resignation at the same time?"
Johnson then intervened, accusing Starmer of politicising the monarchy before he himself was told off by Hoyle.
Johnson then called for the Labour leader to withdraw the remarks.
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It follows increasing pressure for the Prime Minister to resign following revelations of more than a dozen Downing Street parties.
Recent polling shows most Brits believe the PM should go following the scandal.
However, Johnson has refused to vacate the office, telling his opponents that they should wait for the much anticipated Sue Gray inquiry into the parties.
There have been warnings though, that the report could end up being a "Whitehall whitewash" with calls for a judge-led inquiry instead.
Erskine May – which outlines parliamentary procedure – states: “No question can be put which brings the name of the sovereign or the influence of the Crown directly before Parliament, or which casts reflections upon the sovereign or the royal family.”
Questions are allowed on matters such as costs to the public of funding royal events and royal palaces.
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