“I’ve just been talking to your secretary of state for health, poor man He came for privy council.
Hancock has been a target for Cummings, Johnson’s top former adviser, in recent weeks.
The health secretary then endured further public indignity when, as he was being driven away in a car, a journalist yelled at him: “Are you hopeless Mr Hancock?” Hancock was heard replying, “I don’t think so …”, as the car sped off.
The prime minister did not go to Prince Philip’s funeral in April as he gave up his place to allow in an additional relative amid the Covid-19 restrictions on numbers.
Their meeting on Wednesday took place in the Queen’s private audience room at Buckingham Palace, London, and is believed to be the first time she has been at the building in six weeks; she attended the state opening of parliament in May.