Talks are intensifying this weekend between the UK and the EU over securing a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland
.King Charles had also been due to meet the president of the European Commission in the UK on Saturday, the BBC understands.
However, it was an opportunity for the pair to meet face-to-face. And the fact this meeting had been planned is significant as it appears to indicate a Brexit deal was about to be done - and publicly presented - while Ms von der Leyen was in the UK.Some had suggested a new deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol - thought to be all but complete - could be called the Windsor Agreement and include a moment in front of the cameras involving Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ms von der Leyen.
A source said afterwards that it had been "positive" and negotiations would continue, with the leaders agreeing "to discuss this further in coming days." But there have been repeated delays over the past week or so, as wrangling went on between No 10, the Democratic Unionist Party and Conservative backbenchers.Earlier, a source from the DUP told the BBC they had not been involved in any talks with the prime minister on Friday and had no meetings scheduled over the weekend.
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