On the balcony of Friary Court
in St James’s Palace, David White – an official known as the Garter King of Arms
– read the first proclamation.
He ended by saying:
“Given at St James’s Palace this 10th day of September in the year of our Lord
2022.” In the moments after, “God save the King” was shouted
out.
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Crowds gathered in front of Friary Court
The national anthem was then
performed by The Band of the Coldstream Guards alongside eight state trumpeters
of the Household Cavalry. They were accompanied by the St James’s Palace
Detachment of The King’s Guard made up of Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards.
Shortly after the first
proclamation, at 12 pm, the second reading of the Accession Proclamation was
performed by Timothy Duke, the Clarenceux King of Arms in front of the Lord
Mayor, Court of Aldermen, High Officers and members of Common Council outside
the City of London’s Royal Exchange.
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The second proclamation took place at the Royal Exchange
Ahead of the
announcements, proceedings took place in the throne room of St.
James’s Palace where King Charles made a touching declaration.
In the moving message,
he said: “My lords, ladies and gentlemen, it is my most sorrowful
duty to announce to you the death of my beloved mother the Queen.
“I know how deeply you,
the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathise with me in
the irreparable loss we’ve all suffered.
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Charles is joined by his Queen Consort and Prince William
“It is the greatest
consolation to me to know the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and
brothers.
“And that such
overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family in
our loss. To all of us as a family as to this kingdom and the wider family of
nations of which it is a part, my mother gave an example of lifelong love and
selfless service.”
“My mother’s reign was
unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve,
we give thanks for this most faithful life.”
Prince William and Charle’s
Queen Consort, Liz Truss and the Archibishop of Canterbury were the first
to sign the official proclamation ahead of other members of the
Ascension Council. The death of the late Queen was confirmed at 10 am at the
start of the historic meeting to announce King Charles III as monarch.
The new monarch became King
the moment the Queen died, but an accession council must be convened
following the death of a sovereign which usually takes place within 24 hours.
The accession council, which
is always traditionally held as soon as the monarch has died, met for a
ten-minute meeting after which began the official Proclamation of Charles as
King. The council began at the picture gallery, and then the
proceedings will move to the throne room where they awaited His Majesty.
The accession council is
composed of privy councillors, senior parliamentarians, leading members of the
church of England commonwealth leaders’ senior judges and civil servants
Amongst those gathered already are David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson
who are all gathered in the picture gallery as they await the start of
proceedings.
The momentous occasion
came just hours after the new King addressed the nation last night in his
first official speech to the public.
During the touching
message, Charles sat beside a photo of his “darling Mama” and
renewed her promise of lifelong service as he praised her humour, warmth, and
ability to see the best in people.
He also announced that he had
made his son William the new Prince of Wales, with his wife Catherine the
Princess of Wales – the title last used by William’s late mother, Diana.
The father-of-two also
expressed his “love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their
lives overseas”.
Charles finished with an
emotional sign-off to his “darling Mama” when he wished: “May
flights of angels sing thee to thy rest,” a quote from the ending of
Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
