Wearing ermine robes, foreign minister Cameron takes seat in Lords

LONDON (Reuters) - Wearing traditional red and ermine robes, former prime minister and newly-appointed foreign minister David Cameron swore an oath of allegiance to King Charles on Monday, taking his seat in the upper house of parliament.

Cameron was a surprise addition to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's top team of ministers last week in the British leader's latest reshuffle.

Because he is not currently an elected member of parliament, he was appointed Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, a town in southern England where he lives, so he could take up one of the most senior roles in government.

Led into the House of Lords, Cameron, who resigned as prime minister in 2016 shortly after Britain voted to leave the European Union, was introduced in the chamber and said:

"I, David, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."

Since becoming foreign minister last Monday, Cameron has visited Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and reaffirm Britain's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Among others, he has also spoken to the Palestinian Authority's foreign minister and his Israeli counterpart to call for humanitarian pauses in Gaza.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by William James)