The question of whether or not the King should meet European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was "fundamentally" a decision for Buckingham Palace, Downing Street says.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak "firmly believes it's for the King to make those decisions", according to a spokesman.

"It's not uncommon for His Majesty to accept invitations to meet certain leaders," the spokesman adds, pointing to the King's recent audiences with the presidents of Poland and Ukraine.

We're hearing more reaction to this afternoon's meeting between King Charles and EU leader Ursula von der Leyen, which our political correspondent Nick Eardley points out, has been seen as controversial.

Dame Arlene Foster, the former DUP leader and Northern Ireland first minister, says a decision from No 10 to "ask" the pair to meet would "go down very badly in Northern Ireland".

Writing on Twitter, Foster says: "We must remember this is not the King’s decision but the Government who it appears are tone deaf."

An earlier plan which reportedly took shape for von der Leyen to meet the monarch at the weekend - and was then aborted - met criticism too. DUP chief whip Sammy Wilson said it would have meant "dragging the King into a hugely controversial political issue".

Speaking to the PA news agency at the weekend, a government source denied the King would be involved in anything political. And Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said that meeting "senior international figures" was part of the "normal functions" of the King - something echoed in the Buckingham Palace statement a short time ago.

Image source, PA Media

Former Commons speaker Baroness Boothroyd has died aged 93, according to a statement from current speaker, Lindsay Hoyle.

She was "one of a kind", Hoyle says. "Not only was Betty Boothroyd an inspiring woman, but she was also an inspirational politician, and someone I was proud to call my friend."

The statement continues: "To be the first woman speaker was truly ground-breaking and Betty certainly broke that glass ceiling with panache."

Boothroyd's eight-year tenure in Westminster coincided with the Good Friday Agreement - something you might hear reference to today.

This historic peace deal was signed in 1998 and approved by public votes in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Read more about her life here.

Reality Check

The changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol are expected to reduce the amount of checks that need to be done on goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

We've been looking at what was said about potential challenges that Brexit could create in Northern Ireland during the referendum campaign in 2016.

It was hard to predict what would happen because nobody knew what sort of deal would follow the vote to leave the EU.

Many people thought the UK would leave the EU's political institutions but stay in the single market or customs union, which would have reduced the need for checks.

You can read more about what was said during the campaign here.

Chris Mason
Political editor

The briefing operation is under way.

A procession of ministers and backbenchers have been seen trooping up Downing Street.

Elsewhere in Whitehall, phone calls are being made to fill in business leaders and others, as the government seeks to shape the choreography of the day and what influential voices say later on.

One prominent Brexiteer Conservative MP who has had a briefing texts me: "I am very impressed! If this had been on offer at any time since 2017 I would have been delighted. Shows real determination to find a good way forward for Northern Ireland and the UK. I have some questions, but feel optimistic."

Let’s see.

It looks like some of the documents connected to the deal won’t see the light of day before the news conference expected mid-afternoon.

But they probably will be published so MPs can have a read before the Commons statement which is currently planned for this evening.

Timings, though, on days like this can be a bit slippery.

Jessica Parker
Brussels correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Ursula von der Leyen’s audience with the King is “not part” of the NI Protocol talks process, says the European Commission.

The EU chief’s meeting with His Majesty is described as “separate” to the discussion she’s having with Rishi Sunak.

While the government has not confirmed if MPs would get a vote on any deal, they've said MPs would be able to "express" their view - but who else will be looking closely at the details?

Any deal will first of all have to convince the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), who have said they will not return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland unless fully happy with the deal's terms.

The people of Northern Ireland will be impacted by any new deal, which is meant to remove obstacles affecting trade imports and medicine supplies, to name a few.

The DUP’s reaction to the proposed deal will also give a cue to Brexiteers within the Tory party as to whether to back it or not – although some might decide to do so regardless of the DUP's stance, as a way of strengthening the Conservative Party ahead of the next general election. Others, like diehard Boris Johnson backers, may well oppose it in principle.

The deal is likely to reverberate less in the rest of the UK, where the electorate doesn’t generally pay close attention to events in Northern Ireland – though news that Sunak has “solved” one of Brexit’s sticky points would certainly make a favourable impression on some.

Nick Eardley
Chief political correspondent

The monarch often meets leaders visiting the UK.

But a few Tory MPs I've spoken to in the last few days have said they feel uncomfortable about the King meeting the European Commission president today.

They think it could give the impression of an endorsement of a deal that will be politically controversial.

The Palace would deny that. It has 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."

If you're just joining us, let's bring you a quick rundown of what has happened so far this morning and more importantly what we are still expecting to happen on this significant day:

• President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in London and will meet King Charles, Buckingham Palace has confirmed
• She will also meet PM Rishi Sunak in Windsor later today to finalise a post-Brexit deal
• The agreement would look to resolve an often rancorous dispute over part of the Brexit agreement, concerning trading arrangements for Northern Ireland
• Sunak hopes to win over the support of the Democratic Unionist Party in a bid to get Stormont back up and running
• Tory Eurosceptics have spoken to media outlets this morning warning the "devil is in the detail"

• Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told GB News if the DUP are against the deal then a "significant number of Conservatives" would be unhappy
• He also feels former PM Boris Johnson carries sway in this development, as Rees-Mogg said he holds the former PM as the "biggest figure in UK politics"
• Another Tory backbencher, Theresa Villiers, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme it is "crucial" MPs get to vote on Sunak's fresh agreement

Stay with us as we follow the developments in Westminster, Windsor, Belfast and across the rest of the UK.

Also in the last few moments European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has tweeted an image of her arriving at St Pancras International station in London.

In the post she confirms she is going to meet with Rishi Sunak later today.

Chris Mason
Political editor

King Charles will meet the President of the European Commission for tea at Windsor Castle this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

A spokesperson says: "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 King and Ursula Von der Leyen have met before.

It is thought climate change and Ukraine will be among the topics they discuss.

It’s been three years since the UK officially left the EU - which happened after months of complex and sometimes bitter negotiations following the Brexit referendum result in 2016.

A lot happened between that seismic vote and the UK’s formal departure from the trading bloc on 31 January 2020.

Through two changes of prime minister, two general elections, and more votes in parliament than anyone cares to remember, here's a quick recap of how we got here.

Image source, Reuters

At a press conference this morning, Labour leader Keir Starmer addressed the rumoured developments on the Northern Ireland deal, saying that any changes "could have been taken 18 months, two years ago, but we've been stuck in an impasse".

He added that "the EU and the UK are probably in agreement, or very near to agreement at this stage... the question will be whether the prime minister has got the strength to sell it to his backbenchers or not".

Starmer also said that many people will be feeling "frustrated" that progress has taken so long and added that this wouldn't have happened under a Labour government "because we don't have those divisions in our party on this issue."

Finally, Starmer added that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will "almost inevitably" have to have some oversight in the final deal - despite the fact that the ECJ's involvement has long been an obstacle to any agreement.

You're joining us as we await a midday meeting in Windsor between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

They're expected to agree a new deal over the trade status of Northern Ireland. This has been a big sticking point post-Brexit, which has led to a shutdown of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

DUP views are critical: Former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg questioned whether the PM had done enough in his deal to win over the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He told ITV he was "not sure" Sunak would manage to coax the party back into Northern Ireland's power-sharing government - though later told GB News that the PM appeared to have won "some important concessions" from the EU.

Johnson is key too: Rees-Mogg also said he expected the views of the former PM Boris Johnson, "the biggest figure in UK politics", to hold sway.

Devil's in the detail: We haven't heard from the DUP this morning. What unionist politicians make of the deal is expected to become clear when the text comes out. Our political correspondent Jayne McCormack expects the DUP to reserve judgement initially.

Calls for a vote: It's "crucial" that Parliament gets a say on the deal, former Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told Radio 4's Today programme. The government is not obliged to offer a ballot, though senior Brexiteers have told the BBC that they do expect one.

Backing Sunak: Labour and the Lib Dems have again vowed to get behind the government over its deal. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said her party would not "play politics" over the issue, and Sir Ed Davey said the Lib Dems would "do the responsible thing".

The European Research Group (ERG) is made up of Conservative MPs, many of whom are prominent Eurosceptics, including the long-serving MP Bill Cash.

Appearing on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, he was asked: "Is there an ERG WhatsApp group, and if so, what's the mood?"

"Well basically everybody is deeply concerned because of this subjugation of Northern Ireland and its voters to the laws of the EU.

"We left the EU, we had a referendum with a result which was endorsed by the general election of 2019," Cash replied.

"So for practical purposes we are deeply concerned. We haven't seen any details of the text in a broad context. We're being told certain things, we just need to see the text."

Image source, Getty Images

The UK and EU are on the brink of an agreement which would reform the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The protocol is the part of the Brexit deal which sets Northern Ireland's trade rules.

It has practical implications on everyday life for residents in Northern Ireland, from importing essential medicines, to online shopping, to the cost of running a business.

It has been widely reported that some of the trade problems created by the protocol could be addressed by the creation of green and red lanes.

The green lane would be used for goods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, but ultimately staying inside the UK. These goods would only require minimal paperwork.

But how green would that green lane be and who would get to use it?

BBC News NI economics and business editor John Campbell has set out this and other questions that businesses and their customers will be asking about the new proposals.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Last month, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the Northern Ireland Protocol was lawful.

Unionist politicians had challenged the arrangement, saying it breached the Acts of Union and the Northern Ireland Act.

The court unanimously rejected their appeal on all grounds. It had previously been rejected by the High Court and Court of Appeal.

However, it added that it was Parliament's will that any part of the Acts of Union which conflict with the Protocol were suspended.

• Read more here

Image source, .

Some fresh images to bring you now from Downing Street as Northern Ireland Office minister Steve Baker goes into No 10 - he's one to watch out for as we get more details about Sunak's potential deal.

For years Baker, a well-known Eurosceptic, has been a key backbencher especially during his tis tenure as chair of the influential European Research Group (ERG) from 2016 to 2017 and 2019 to 2020.

Back in October, he apologised at the Tory Party conference for some of his behaviour towards Ireland and the EU during the Brexit process.

He reflected he and others did not "always behave in a way which encouraged Ireland and the European Union to trust us to accept that they have legitimate interests".

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris - another former chair of the ERG - has also been spotted arriving at Downing Street - another person who will have a key interest in the details of Sunak's agreement given his role within government.

Image source, .

Many Conservative MPs want to see the details of the dealpublished at 10:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2023

10:12 GMT 27 February 2023

Nick Eardley
Chief political correspondent reporting from Windsor

There have been a lot of noises about the proposed detail of this deal.

Some senior Brexiteers have said they won't agree to anything that means EU law applies in Northern Ireland.

That's a high bar unlikely to be met. There are some Tory MPs - maybe 15 to 20 - who are unlikely to sign up.

But, there are others who could be won over.

Speaking to Conservatives over the weekend, many want to wait and see the detail. If the PM has got a good deal, and the DUP don't criticise the deal strongly, they could back it.

But it's the exact details that will matter. And nobody has them yet.

Let's take a deeper look at what the Westminster government is looking to achieve.

In short, it wants to create so-called red lanes and green lanes for goods imported from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland.

The green lane would be for trusted traders transporting goods to Northern Ireland only. These would be exempt from checks and customs controls.

The red lane would be for products going on to the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU. These would undergo full checks and customs controls.

Tax rules would also be changed.

Image source, .

Businesses in Northern Ireland currently follow EU rules on state aid and VAT. That means government payments to help firms in Northern Ireland, and tax breaks, must be within limits set by the EU - the UK government wants to remove these limits.

The UK government also wants an independent body to settle trade disputes, rather than the European Court of Justice.

But the EU saw any backtracking on the post-Brexit deal it agreed with the UK in 2019 as a violation of international law.