'Activate the Queen': What the Trending Phrase Means in the Wake of Boris Johnson's Resignation

After Boris Johnson announced he was stepping down from his role as the British Prime Minister, many wondered what this meant for Queen Elizabeth — and if the monarch, 96, would have to wade into U.K. politics.

Amid Johnson's announcement on Thursday, the phrase "Activate the Queen" began trending on Twitter. It seems to originate from The Times editor Jack Blackburn's reply to a tweet from Whitehall Correspondent Mikey Smith, claiming a source said that Johnson would not step down voluntarily and force a vote.

"This would activate the Queen," Blackburn responded to the scenario. "Lascelles Principles will direct her to decline his request for a dissolution. She then is left with the choice to dismiss him or not."

RELATED: See the Queen Greeting World Leaders Throughout Her Record-Breaking Reign

Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth

However, Johnson announced his resignation outside No.10 Downing Street on Thursday after losing the confidence of his cabinet — leaving Queen Elizabeth out of a difficult position in a political storm.

For more on Boris Johnson resigning, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

Johnson was elected Prime Minister in July 2019. He now aims to continue as caretaker Prime Minister until the fall while the Conservative Party holds a leadership election across the summer. As one of her duties, the monarch has also continued approving the new ministers that Boris has been recommending to replace those who have resigned.

Jack Hill/WPA Pool/Getty Images Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth

However, the phrase "activate the Queen" was too good for Twitter to pass up.

"Listen, 'Activate the Queen' sounds like something you'd yell during the final episode of an anime and I have only the utmost respect for that," one user said.

Another quipped, "Why is activate the queen trending? Are we playing chess?"

Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth

While a U.K. monarch's role is mainly ceremonial these days, it is technically within their power to dismiss a prime minister. However, it's extremely unlikely that the Queen would ever do this.

"The Queen's powers rest on convention," Vernon Bogdanor, professor of government at King's College London previously told The Guardian. "She's got quite wide legal powers but in a constitutional monarchy she shouldn't use them except in very extreme circumstances, which I don't think these would be."

The last time a British monarch sacked a prime minister happened back in 1834 when King William IV dismissed Lord Melbourne in favor of Sir Robert Peel. But when Peel resigned in 1835, the King had to reinstate Lord Melbourne to the position.

JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Queen Elizabeth

As the Head of State, Queen Elizabeth has to remain neutral with respect to political matters...after all, Johnson was the 14th prime minister during her historic 70-year reign. The two roles work closely together and maintain a close relationship, including a weekly meeting.

The monarch — as well as other members of the royal family — does not vote or stand for election, according to the royal family's official website.

However, the Queen holds important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the government of the U.K. For example, while the British public democratically elect a leader, that leader is invited to Buckingham Palace for the Queen to officially appoint before it's official.

In a ceremony, the newly elected prime minister is asked if they're able to form a government. Once the politician replies yes, a ceremony known as the "Kissing of Hands" takes place. In previous generations, this would have required the election winner to physically kiss the hands of the monarch to prove their loyalty. Today, however, it is merely a symbolic term to show that the Government's team has officially been appointed as ministers of the crown.

The Queen's political duties also include opening each new session of Parliament, granting Royal Assent to legislation and approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council.

Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret

Winston Churchill served as prime minister from 1940 to 1945, then again from 1951 to 1955. He was the first British prime minister the Queen worked with during her reign, when she ascended the throne in 1952.

The monarch was quite fond of Churchill and sent him a handwritten letter upon his retirement. In it, she said no one "will ever for me be able to hold the place of my first prime minister, to whom both my husband and I owe so much and for whose wise guidance during the early years of my reign I shall always be so profoundly grateful," according to Yahoo.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

The Queen's 14 prime ministers (so far) have also included the first two women in the role: Margaret Thatcher and Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May.