Rory Stewart has pulled out of the race to become Mayor of London, saying it is too difficult to sustain a campaign extended by the coronavirus pandemic. The former Tory Cabinet minister announced on Wednesday, the eve of what would have been polling day, that he had made the “agonising decision” to abandon his ambition.
After serving as International Development Secretary under Theresa May, Mr Stewart campaigned to succeed her in the Conservative Party leadership election last summer.
But after Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, Mr Stewart was one of 21 MPs expelled from the party for rebelling over Brexit.
The former MP for Penrith and The Border chose not to stand again and instead set his sights on London.
As many of his supporters wonder whether he will abandon politics altogether, Express.co.uk can shed light on a 2010 report, which explored Mr Stewart’s surprising relationship with the Royal Family.
While studying PPE at Oxford, Mr Stewart used to tutor Prince William and Prince Harry in his spare time.
In a 2010 report in the Daily Mail, it is revealed the former Tory MP got himself in some serious trouble during his first visit at the royal residence, Highgrove House.
Mr Stewart reportedly locked himself in a bathroom which was reinforced and wired in case of an attack.
Prince Charles is said to have appeared in his dressing gown after the Etonian protested from inside.
According to the report, the heir to the throne told Mr Stewart: “Don’t be ridiculous.
“Turn the key in the lock.”
However, the key broke and security men had to break down the door with axes.
At a London event organised by the I – ‘Rory Stewart in conversation with Ian Birrell’ – last year, the former Tory Minister told Express.co.uk that the unfortunate incident did in fact occur.
He said: “I am afraid I did lock myself in Prince Charles’ loo, yes.”
The Prince of Wales’ relationship with the MP for Penrith and the Border did not deteriorate after that, though.
A source told the New Yorker last year: “The Prince of Wales suspends all his critical faculties when it comes to Rory.”
After Mr Stewart graduated from Oxford, his connection with the blue-blooded indeed continued.
In 2006, Prince Charles turned to Mr Stewart to help him set up a charity in Afghanistan to aid local craftsmen make a living.
Among the first to volunteer for the charity was Shoshana Clark, who later became Mr Stewart’s wife.