Striding into Downing Street after his meeting with King Charles, Rishi Sunak's message was clear: he was here to get on with the job.
There were no family or friends, acolytes or colleagues to applaud him through the famous black door of No 10. His wife Akshata Murty and their daughters Anoushka and Krishna were not given the chance to see him cross the threshold.
While many families would jump at the chance of having such a moment in the spotlight, it was not for the Sunaks.
There was no time to lose before he set about sorting out the mess of Liz Truss's ill-fated, disastrous seven weeks in charge.
He even did away with the twisty lectern used by Liz Truss only an hour earlier. The unusual design had been likened to a Jenga tower — the game in which the blocks eventually collapse.
For Mr Sunak there was a no-nonsense traditional lectern. This was serious business with no time for frills, he was saying.
After the turmoil of the past few weeks, Mr Sunak was moving swiftly and uncompromisingly to disown Ms Truss’s calamitous agenda of unfunded tax cuts, making clear that it was his job to clear up the chaos she left behind.
He said “some mistakes were made” during Ms Truss’s 49 days in office — without specifically mentioning the mini-budget which tanked the markets — but stressed they were “not born of ill will, or bad intentions”.
“Quite the opposite in fact, but mistakes nonetheless,” he added. “And I have been elected as leader of my party and your prime minister in part to fix them.”
As Mr Fixit, he has set himself a mission to bring about economic stability, unite Britain and put the needs of the people before politics.
The prime minister put the country on notice to expect painful decisions — with tax rises and spending cuts almost certainly on the way as he looks to fill an estimated £40 billion black hole in the public finances — while at the same time reassuring financial markets he will balance the books.
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Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech outside Number 10 Downing Street. Reuters -
King Charles III invites Mr Sunak to become prime minister and form a new government in an audience at Buckingham Palace. PA -
Mr Sunak promised to bring stability amid what he called a “profound economic crisis”. PA -
The new prime minister is applauded as he enters Number 10. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street -
Mr Sunak is greeted by Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Simon Case as he enters 10 Downing Street. AFP -
A worker loads a removal van with boxes outside 10 Downing Street. Reuters -
Members of the public wait for the arrival of Mr Sunak near Downing Street. AP -
Staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office watch from the windows as Mr Sunak arrives in Downing Street. PA -
An Indian artist in Mumbai creates a painting to congratulate Mr Sunak on becoming prime minister. EPA -
Mr Sunak arrives at Buckingham Palace. PA -
Incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters with a wave. AFP -
Rishi Sunak is greeted by colleagues upon his arrival. AFP -
Conservative MPs applaud as Rishi Sunak arrives. Reuters -
Rishi Sunak departs after making a statement inside the Conservative Party's headquarters. PA -
Mr Sunak meets the 1922 Committee in Parliament after he was announced as the new leader of the Conservative Party when Penny Mordaunt dropped out. PA -
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces Mr Sunak as the new leader of the Conservatives and therefore the prime minister. PA -
Members of the media work outside No 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain's prime minister, in central London, as they await announcements. AFP -
Mr Sunak leaves his campaign office in London. AP -
A billboard of Liz Truss, the departing prime minister, in London. Bloomberg -
Members of the public look through the gates into Downing Street. Reuters -
Mr Sunak leaves his home in London on Monday morning. AFP -
Leader of the House of Commons and Conservative leadership candidate Penny Mordaunt speaks to the media on Sunday. Ms Mordaunt pulled out of the race moments before the deadline for nominations. PA
"Remember me?" he seemed to be saying. "I kept the economy running during Covid and everything was smooth."
Meanwhile, just as Mr Sunak stepped up to address the country, outside Downing Street demonstrators delivered an amplified musical message. One of the tunes they chose for the arrival of the prime minister, an apparent Star Wars fan, was The Imperial March, Darth Vader's theme.
The new Conservative leader promised to govern with compassion, professionalism and integrity as he laid out his vision on the steps of No 10.
Words were aimed at addressing the chaos and scandals of the Boris Johnson years and what followed under Ms Truss. To voters weary of the endless political drama, he was promising calm, competent leadership and good government.
He was brushing away the Truss era, insisting he still has a mandate to govern based on the 2019 election manifesto.
Earlier, Ms Truss had delivered her farewell speech on the same spot, watched by her husband Hugh O’Leary and their teenage daughters Frances and Liberty. The girls’ appearance marks the first time they have been seen in public since their mother took office 49 days ago.
Ms Truss’s husband kept his eyes locked on his wife for most of her speech.
When she had finished, she turned to her family and her daughters smiled before following their parents out of Downing Street.
There were no school lessons missed by the girls, as it is half-term. While she leaves office as the UK’s shortest-serving prime minister, Ms Truss will nevertheless be remembered as only the third female to hold the position.
A small band of loyal Truss followers gathered to watch Ms Truss give the address but few MPs were in sight.
Therese Coffey, who served as deputy prime minister and health secretary in Ms Truss’s administration, was at the front of the pack and snapped a selfie before her boss took to the podium.
Ms Coffey appeared moved as Ms Truss walked out of Downing Street for the last time as PM. Colleagues embraced her and patted her back as she headed off to hand in her resignation to the king.
As the UK’s third prime minister in only two turbulent months, the pressure resting on Mr Sunak's shoulders is enormous. But his body language did not hint at him being daunted in the slightest by the magnitude of the task at hand.
During his speech, which lasted five minutes and 56 seconds, he paid tribute to his former boss Mr Johnson’s “incredible achievements as prime minister” but he had much less to say about Ms Truss.
Rishi Sunak through the years - in pictures
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces July 4 as the date for the 2024 general election at No 10 Downing Street. Here, The National looks back at his political career. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during local election campaigning in Teesside in May 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak presents cupcakes to journalists on board a plane on the way to Warsaw in April 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during a press conference in Downing Street in January after the Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. Getty Images -
Being applauded after his speech at the Conservative Party conference in October 2023. Getty Images -
Looking pensive alongside then-home secretary Suella Braverman at No 10 in October 2023. She didn't last much longer in the cabinet. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak sits in an old Special Branch police vehicle which was used to transport former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in July 2023. Getty Images -
On board Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover in June 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arriving in Japan ahead of the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sending a message at Accrington Market Hall in January 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in November 2022. Getty Images -
King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak makes a statement outside No 10 in October 2022 after taking office. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives inside Number 10 in October 2022. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street -
Greeted by colleagues at Conservative Party HQ after having been announced winner of the leadership contest in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak at Westminster Hall in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. PA -
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy, on the campaign trail in August 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in August 2022. Getty Images -
At a hustings event in Exeter in August 2022. Getty Images -
Celebrates England's first goal as he watches the Women's Euro 2022 final in Salisbury in July 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss take part in the BBC Leadership debate at Victoria Hall, Hanley, in July 2022. Getty Images -
With daughters Krisna and Anoushka and wife Akshata Murthy in July 2022. Getty Images -
Opening the Great Ayton Village Fete during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Murthy speak to then-Prince Charles at a British Asian Trust event in February 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 when he was chancellor. Getty Images -
Holding the budget box as he departs 11 Downing Street to deliver his Autumn Budget in October 2021. Getty Images -
At a press conference on the 2021 Budget in London in March 2021. Getty Images -
With former prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to PD Ports on the River Tees in March 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty Images -
Meeting staff back at work after being furloughed at Hamleys toy shop in London, December 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Sunak visits the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty Images -
Lighting a candle for Diwali on Downing Street, November 2020. Getty Images -
Working on a speech in his flat above 11 Downing Street in November 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak visit the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London in October 2020. Getty Images -
With his 'Winter Economy Plan' outside 11 Downing Street in September 2020. AFP -
Decorating a plate at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke pottery in September 2020. Getty Images -
Promoting 'eat out to help out' on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty Images -
A member of the public takes a selfie with Rishi Sunak during a visit to Scotland in August 2020. AFP -
Visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London in July 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Rishi Sunak visits a Pret A Manger in Westminster in July 2020. HM Treasury -
With Mr Johnson at his first Cabinet meeting after a reshuffle at 10 Downing Street in February 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff in November 2019. Getty Images
He said he was “not daunted” by the task ahead as he stands “ready to lead our country into the future”.
He spoke for longer than all of the equivalent speeches by prime ministers in recent decades except for Mr Johnson in 2019, who spoke for 11 minutes and 13 seconds.
Mr Sunak's entry into No 10 marks a historic moment for the county as he is the first Hindu to serve as prime minister of Britain.
There will be many across the country now hoping a fresh face in Downing Street will usher in a new era of much-needed stability on the back of months of chaos and upheaval.
With a war in Europe, a worsening cost-of-living emergency, inflation at a 40-year high and the National Health Service facing a winter crisis, tackling the challenges at hand will be no small feat.
As opposition parties' calls for a general election grow louder, Mr Sunak pledged to work to earn the trust of voters.
He presented himself to the country as a man who understands the scale of the challenge he faces but is ready to tackle it head on and fix it.
