Ben Brogan surmises:

A time of national uncertainty. The Prime Minister is out of the country in Latin America. While he's away his deadly rival slips into Buckingham Palace for secret talks with the Queen. A telling photograph of the meeting is conveniently slipped out to the media, just hours after the Governor has pulled the plug on the PM's economic policy. Meanwhile, a hatchet-faced junior officer with an army of loyal fighters ready to strike heads for the House of Commons to "stand in" for the absent leader. His friends make discreet inquiries about the availability of retirement villas in the south of France. Stay tuned.