A day for hearty English breakfasts and nimble-footed removal men

With the Camerons not yet having access to the private accommodation at Downing Street – allowing time for their predecessors to move out – he tucked into the hearty breakfast at his Notting Hill home before heading for No10 where he began work shortly after 8am, finalising a list of government appointments.

The day ahead was largely set to be divided between appointing the members of his cabinet – a process slightly unusual given the presence of members of two parties, with Nick Clegg choosing which Liberal Democrats should fill posts before Mr Cameron officially appointed them – and fielding calls from world leaders.

Earlier, Mr Cameron welcomed his new deputy Mr Clegg to Downing Street for the first time in his new post.

The sight of the two men – so adversarial during the election campaign only a matter of days ago – shaking hands and

slapping each other's back in front of the famous No10 door was a stark sign of just how dramatic a shift politics has undergone.

For his part, Mr Clegg had ducked out of meetings as the fine detail of an agreement was thrashed out on Tuesday afternoon to head home and celebrate the birthday of his middle son Alberto, emerging refreshed during the evening to ensure his MPs and party executive signed up to the deal in the evening.

Mr Clegg and his family are expected to remain in their south-west London home.

It was unclear last night whether anyone would be using the second apartment in Downing Street and whether the Cleggs would have access to the country retreat of Dorneywood.