Prince Charles became monarch after the demise of her mother – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, i.e., September 8, 2022
King Charles III dedicated “what remains to me of my life” to “the heavy task that has been laid upon me” after he was formally confirmed as the new king of the United Kingdom (U.K.) in a ceremony steeped in tradition and pageantry at St. James’s Palace.
Charles became monarch after the demise of her mother – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, i.e., September 8, 2022 but was officially confirmed as the King of U.K. on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
Giving the example of his mother, King Charles said, “Her reign was unequaled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.”
The ancient ceremony at the 500-year-old St. James’s Palace in London consisted of 2 parts. In the first part, the sovereign’s death was formally announced and the new sovereign proclaimed. It was a closed meeting, without King Charles III, attended by dignitaries and members of the Privy Council, which is a panel of royal advisers. The proclamation confirming Charles as King was then signed by his son William, the new Prince of Wales, and Charles’ wife Camilla, the Queen Consort. It was also signed by council members Lord President of the Council Penny Mordaunt, Truss and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
The second part of the Accession Council was attended by the King. He also approved orders declaring the day of Queen Elizabeth’s State Funeral as a bank holiday in the U.K. Outside the palace, in Friary Court, trumpeters were played along with a military display, while a gun salute echoed across the capital from the Tower of London and in Hyde Park following the ceremony. A second proclamation took place an hour later in the heart of the financial district of the City of London, the Royal Exchange.
In the afternoon, the Members of Parliament took their oath of allegiance to King Charles III in the House of Commons. King Charles III then met the religious leaders and politicians in Buckingham Palace. The King met the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster.
On Sunday afternoon, the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrived in the Scottish capital Edinburgh on, through the Scottish countryside. Huge crowds gathered along the city’s iconic Royal Mile to bid farewell to the Queen, who died on Thursday at the age of 96.
King Charles III has been officially proclaimed head of state of both Australia and New Zealand at ceremonies in the nations’ capitals. The Prime Minister of New Zealand – Jacinda Ardern told a crowd that in the wake of the queen’s death, New Zealand had entered a time of change.
She said, “King Charles has consistently demonstrated his deep care for our nation. This relationship is deeply valued by our people. I have no doubt it will deepen.”
In Australia, Governor-General David Hurley, the British monarch’s representative in Australia, proclaimed King Charles as head of state at Parliament House in Canberra. The proclamation was marked by a 21-gun salute.
