THE QUEEN ELIZABETH GAVE GORDON BROWN A PARTING GIFT FROM SAMANTHA CAMERON'S STATIONERY SHOP, SMYTHSON. THE GIFT OF TWO SIGNED PHOTOGRAPHS IN LEATHER FRAMES FROM THE BOND STREET STORE WAS MADE AFTER BROWN FORMALLY TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION AS PRIME MINISTER AS PART OF A CONSTITUTIONAL RITUAL THAT HAS BEEN LARGELY UNCHANGED SINCE THE DAYS OF CHARLES II. PROTOCOL DICTATES THAT PRIME MINISTERS ARE NOT APPOINTED, THEY ARE INVITED TO TAKE THE JOB BY THE REIGNING MONARCH. THE PROCEDURE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS 'KISSING HANDS' WAS SET INTO MOTION YESTERDAY WHEN GORDON BROWN ARRIVED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE JUST BEFORE 7.30pm. HIS LAST OFFICIAL DUTY OF OFFICE WAS TO INFORM THE QUEEN THAT SHE SHOULD SEND FOR DAVID CAMERON. THE TORY WAS HELD UP IN LONDON TRAFFIC, BUT FINALLY ARRIVED AT 8.08pm. DURING HIS AUDIENCE, CAMERON TOOK THE QUEEN'S HAND, BUT DID NOT KISS IT OR KNEEL, BEFORE BEING ASKED IF HE COULD FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT. AFTER REPLYING 'YES, MA'AM', CAMERON WAS THEN INVITED TO BECOME THE NEW PRIME MINISTER, THE 14th DURING QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIGN.
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