Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has met Boris Johnson at Balmoral Castle to formally accept his resignation as UK prime minister prior to commissioning the new Conservative Party leader Liz Truss.

According to my sources close to the royal family, the meeting which included a casual walk in the grounds of the royal residence in Scotland (main picture) was designed to put an end to suggestions of a “frosty” relationship between Her Majesty and Mr Johnson.

My royal sources tell me that the walk in the grounds of Balmoral was Her Majesty’s own idea.

“Mr Johnson arrived at the castle and was shown to Her Majesty’s sitting room,” one royal insider revealed to me.

“Unfortunately the Queen’s current mobility problems meant he was kept waiting for some time. (below)

“But then the message came through that Her Majesty wanted him to join her outside in the castle grounds.”

My royal sources tell me that the Queen has been concerned for some time about public perceptions of her views towards the colourful and controversial outgoing PM.

“Mr Johnson was the 14^th British PM the Queen had to deal with, so it is inevitable that the relationship between the head of state and the heads of her government during her reign will vary,” another royal insider confided in me.

“Her Majesty is very discrete when it comes to revealing her attitude to her prime ministers, but I can say her views on Mr Johnson were indeed different than those she held about his predecessors.

“I do recall the unfortunate incident in 2019 when Mr Johnson’s advised Her Majesty to prorogue the UK Parliament to help gag debate on Brexit.

“Her Majesty, of course, followed her prime minister’s advice but the UK Supreme Court later found that the move was illegal.

“The Queen was naturally upset but, as she always does, she gave little away.

“All she said, at least within my earshot was, and I quote: ‘That fucking tousled-haired fatboy fuckwit led me right up the royal garden path.’

“It was the sort of subtle and inscrutable reaction that we as courtiers have come to expect from a monarch who has served on the throne for more than 70 years.”

After his final meeting as prime minister with Her Majesty, Mr Johnson told me he had enjoyed the experience.

“Hey ho, old chap, or chapette as the case may be,” Mr Johnson said.

“It was quite a wheeze to walk with Her Maj. She’s quite the energetic old bird, despite her age.

“While my talks with her are always strictly confidential I can tell you that Her Majesty was genuinely interested in my post-Downing Street life and was most keen to know if I had any daughters, and to find out how old they are.”