All the UK Prime Ministers during Queen Elizabeth II's reign - CGTN

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Liz Truss becomes the 16th prime minister to have served the UK during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The Conservative Party leader officially became the country's prime minister after meeting the monarch in what is known as the 'kissing hands' ceremony.

It is ceremony dating back to the time when the monarch had the power to form and dissolve parliament, it marks the official start of a prime minister's time in office – and is purely ceremonial, as Queen Elizabeth has never refused the formal request.

We have sourced photographs from the time a 25-year-old Elizabeth met Winston Churchill soon after becoming Queen of the United Kingdom through to her most recent encounter, when she broke with tradition by receiving Truss at her summer residence of Balmoral because she was not well enough to travel to Buckingham Palace, her London home.

Winston Churchill 1951-1955

Churchill adored Queen Elizabeth, pictured here with Prince Charles and Princess Anne in 1953. /Central Press/Getty Images

Churchill adored Queen Elizabeth, pictured here with Prince Charles and Princess Anne in 1953. /Central Press/Getty Images

Anthony Eden 1955-1957

Conservative PM Eden bows to the Queen at the Banquet Hall in London, May 1956. /Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty

Conservative PM Eden bows to the Queen at the Banquet Hall in London, May 1956. /Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty

Harold Macmillan 1957-1963

The Queen visits conversions of old houses near Oxford Circus with Conservative housing minister Macmillan, a few years before he became PM. /CFP

The Queen visits conversions of old houses near Oxford Circus with Conservative housing minister Macmillan, a few years before he became PM. /CFP

Alec Douglas-Home 1963-1964

Douglas-Home was Conservative PM for slightly less than a year. /Creative Commons

Douglas-Home was Conservative PM for slightly less than a year. /Creative Commons

Harold Wilson 1964-1970

Pictured here with the Queen in 1969, Wilson had in 1964 become Labour's first PM in 13 years. /Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Pictured here with the Queen in 1969, Wilson had in 1964 become Labour's first PM in 13 years. /Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Edward Heath 1970-1974

Conservative leader 'Ted' Heath and the Queen welcome U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1970. /CFP

Conservative leader 'Ted' Heath and the Queen welcome U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1970. /CFP

Harold Wilson 1974-1976

Labour regained power in 1974, but Wilson is pictured meeting the Queen after resigning in 1976. /Wesley/Keystone/Getty Images

Labour regained power in 1974, but Wilson is pictured meeting the Queen after resigning in 1976. /Wesley/Keystone/Getty Images

James Callaghan 1976-1979

Labour leader Callaghan is pictured arriving at Windsor Castle for lunch in December 1977. /David Ashdown/Keystone/Getty Images

Labour leader Callaghan is pictured arriving at Windsor Castle for lunch in December 1977. /David Ashdown/Keystone/Getty Images

Margaret Thatcher 1979-1990

The longest-serving PM under Queen Elizabeth II, Thatcher is pictured with the monarch at a 1979 Commonwealth ball in Zambia. /CFP

The longest-serving PM under Queen Elizabeth II, Thatcher is pictured with the monarch at a 1979 Commonwealth ball in Zambia. /CFP

John Major 1990-1997

The Queen presents former Conservative PM Major with the Companion of Honour in 1999. /CFP

The Queen presents former Conservative PM Major with the Companion of Honour in 1999. /CFP

Tony Blair 1997-2007

Blair, Labour's first PM in 18 years, is pictured with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2002. /Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Blair, Labour's first PM in 18 years, is pictured with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2002. /Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Gordon Brown 2007-2010

The Queen Labour PM Brown as she officially opens St. Pancras International Station in 2007. /Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage

The Queen Labour PM Brown as she officially opens St. Pancras International Station in 2007. /Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage

David Cameron 2010-2016

The Queen at Downing Street after lunch with Conservative PM Cameron and his wife Samantha in 2011. /Stefan Rosseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Queen at Downing Street after lunch with Conservative PM Cameron and his wife Samantha in 2011. /Stefan Rosseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Theresa May 2016-2019

Conservative leader May, the UK's second female PM, sits with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2018. /Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Conservative leader May, the UK's second female PM, sits with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2018. /Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Boris Johnson 2019-2022

Having been voted in by the Conservative party members, Johnson is received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace and appointed PM in, 2019. /CFP

Having been voted in by the Conservative party members, Johnson is received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace and appointed PM in, 2019. /CFP

Liz Truss 2022

The Queen invites Conservative Truss to become PM at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, on September 6, 2022. /Jane Barlow/Pool/Reuters

The Queen invites Conservative Truss to become PM at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, on September 6, 2022. /Jane Barlow/Pool/Reuters

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