Following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III has been solemnly proclaimed the next monarch.
He gave a personal statement at the St. James's Palace ceremony in London this morning in which he expressed his sorrow over the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and vowed to uphold "constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony, and prosperity of the peoples of these islands, as well as of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world."
The Accession Council, a venerable group of advisors that dates back to the Norman Conquest, formally announced Charles' status as Head of State today.
Charles became Sovereign on Thursday afternoon when his mother, who was 96, passed away at Balmoral Castle.
The Principal Proclamation announcing the King was then read out at 11 o'clock, and trumpets blasted from St. James' Palace's balcony.
As the King was formally proclaimed Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Supreme Head of the Church of England, Commander-in-Chief of Britain's Armed Forces, as well as Head of State of the Commonwealth and British territories around the world, crowds gathered in front of the palace.
The declaration was delivered aloud by David White, a representative known as the Garter King of Arms, on a balcony above Friary Court in St. James's.
Given at St. James's Palace this 10th day of September in the year 2022, he concluded. Immediately after, cries of "God save the King" were heard.
Shortly after 10.20am, the King paid tribute to the Queen in the throne room of St. James's before the gathered Accession Council.
He also gave his approval to an order declaring the day of the Queen's funeral to be a bank holiday.
"My lords, ladies and gentlemen, it is my most melancholy duty to report to you the death of my loving mother the Queen," Charles III remarked when making his announcement.
I am aware of how strongly you, the entire country, and even the entire globe, feel for the tragic loss we have all endured.
Knowing that so many people are thinking of my sister and brothers brings me the most comfort. And that our entire family should get such unwavering love and support in the wake of our grief.
"In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony, and prosperity of the peoples of these islands, as well as of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world," the King continued in his proclamation.
"In pursuing this goal, I am aware that I will be supported by the love and allegiance of the peoples whose Sovereign I have been asked to be, and that I will be advised by the advice of their elected parliaments in carrying out these obligations.
"In all of this, my dear wife's unwavering support has tremendously encouraged me. I would like to take this occasion to reaffirm my readiness and purpose to carry on the custom of giving my government the hereditary revenues, including the Crown Estate, in exchange for the Sovereign Grant, which helps me fulfill my official duties as head of state and head of nation.
And I pray for the direction and assistance of Almighty God as I carry out the difficult work that has been placed upon me and to which I now devote the time that is left of my life.
At 10 a.m., the newly-elected Prime Minister Liz Truss signed the proclamation alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort, William, the Prince of Wales, and 250 other dignitaries, including Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, Stephen Cottrell, the Prime Minister, the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Earl Marshal, and the Lord President.
The Mother of the House, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, former Cabinet minister Harriet Harman, former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair, and Sir John Major, as well as the high commissioners of the 14 Commonwealth nations where Charles III is Head of State, are also members of the Accession Council.
The Lord President, Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt, announced the king's passing during the ceremony and asked the Clerk of the Council to read the Accession Proclamation aloud before the body signed it. It includes Charles's preferred monarchy designation, King Charles III, which is already known.
At 10.20 am, Charles III is scheduled to arrive for the second portion of the council, which will only be attended by privy counsellors, and make a personal statement regarding the passing of the Queen.
He will swear an oath to protect the Church of Scotland and sign two documents to prove it, with witnesses including his wife Camilla and son Prince William.
The Garter King of Arms will read a Principal Proclamation aloud in front of the public for the first time at 11 a.m. from the balcony of St. James's overlooking Friary Court.
Following it, there will be a flurry of proclamations made across the nation, with the second one being made in the City of London at the Royal Exchange at noon on Saturday and additional proclamations being made in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales at noon on Sunday.
"My lords, it is my sad duty to inform you that Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle," the Lord President remarked as he began the Accession Council's deliberations.
"I suggest that after some important business has been completed, a delegation led by Her Majesty and including His Royal Highness, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York, the Prime Minister, the Council clerk, and I wait on the King and inform him the Council is in session.
"Whereas it has pleased almighty God to call to his mercy our late Sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth II of blessed and glorious memory, by whose demise the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George,' the council clerk read from the proclamation.
"We, therefore, the lords spiritual and temporal of this realm, and members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty's Privy Council, and representatives of the realms and territories, aldermen, and citizens of London and others, do now hereby, with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful liege lord, Charles III, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and of his other realms and territories, King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection, beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless His Majesty with long and happy years to reign over us.'
He declared to the room 'God Save the King' and the packed room repeated the famous phrase.
Following his historic address to the country on Friday, Charles paid a heartfelt and touching homage to his "darling Mama," the Queen.
Like the Queen, the King promised to serve as the new monarch for the rest of his life, declaring, "That commitment of lifetime duty I renew to you all today."
In addition, he used his speech to express his love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad and to announce that he had given birth to his son William the Prince of Wales with Kate the Princess of Wales, as a sign of his efforts to make amends for previous issues with the Sussexes.
As his "darling wife," Camilla, he also paid her respect, referring to her as "my Queen Consort," stating he can "depend on her loving help," and praising her by saying: "I know she will bring to the duties of her new role the steady devotion to duty on which I have grown to rely so much."
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