Charles III has been officially proclaimed King by the Accession Council.
The principal proclamation took place on the balcony at St James’s Palace as trumpets blared, guns were fired from the Tower of London, and the centuries-old ceremony was televised for the first time.
It was followed by a rendition of God Save the King and “three cheers for the King”.
An hour later, a second proclamation was read aloud at the Royal Exchange in the City of London as thousands gathered to watch.
Privy Counsellors, including Prince William and the Queen Consort, Camilla, former prime ministers David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, met in London to declare King Charles the new sovereign on Saturday morning.
The ceremony, which dates back to Saxon times, saw the King pay tribute to his “beloved” mother and to follow her “inspiring” example for “what remains to me of his life”.
“I know how deeply you and the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathise with me in this irreparable loss we have all suffered,” he said.
Split into two parts, the first saw the Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt MP, pronounce the death of the Queen in the picture gallery as past and present politicians and religious leaders listened.
“It is my sad duty to inform you that her most gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on Thursday 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle,” she said.
Split into two parts, the first saw the Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt MP, pronounce the death of the Queen in the picture gallery as past and present politicians and religious leaders listened.
“It is my sad duty to inform you that her most gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on Thursday 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle,” she said.
The Clerk of the Council then read the Accession Proclamation, which declared King Charles the new monarch, Head of the Commonwealth, and Defender of the Faith (head of the Church of England).
Sky News