Breaking News:Prince William cancels today’s engagement as Buckingham Palace issues statement…See More 👇

The Prime Minister announced that the next UK general election will be held on July 4
It is “normal procedure” for the Royal Family to cancel engagements during an election campaign
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Prince William has cancelled today’s engagement as Buckingham Palace issued a statement.

Earlier today, the Royal Family announced that engagements will be postponed following the Prime Minister’s statement calling for a general election.

Following this guidance from Buckingham Palace, the Prince of Wales has postponed unannounced public activities planned for Thursday.

The King has also postponed his engagements for the rest of this week as the royals don’t want to divert attention away from the election campaign.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following the Prime Minister’s statement this afternoon calling a General Election, The Royal Family will – in accordance with normal procedure – postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”

The statement said engagements that “may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign” will be cancelled.

However, GB News’ Royal correspondent Cameron Walker said on X: “I understand D-Day memorial engagements will go ahead, but others will be reviewed on a case by case basis.”

It is not confirmed whether Trooping the Colour, scheduled for June 15, will still go ahead or if the King will still host the Emperor and Empress of Japan planned for late June.

July 4 also falls within Holyrood Week when the King is due to visit Scotland, but this could be cut short for Charles to be at Buckingham Palace on July 5 to appoint his Prime Minister.

On Wednesday afternoon, Rishi Sunak declared that the next UK general election will be held on July 4.

Before his announcement, the Prime Minister asked the King to proclaim the Dissolution of Parliament and the monarch complied with the request.

In a statement, Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister has today asked His Majesty The King to proclaim the Dissolution of Parliament. His Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify that he will comply with this request.

“Parliament will be prorogued on Friday May 24. Dissolution will take place on Thursday May 30. The General Election will take place on Thursday July 4.

“The new Parliament will be summoned to meet on Tuesday July 9, when the first business will be the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of members, and the State Opening will be on Wednesday July 17.”

On Thursday, the Princess Royal was expected to visit the Hornet Services Sailing Club in Gosport, Hampshire, but there has been no confirmation whether this engagement will still go ahead.