The new King will be formally proclaimed monarch at a historic Accession Council in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace at on Saturday, September 10, as the ceremony is televised for the first time.
Charles has automatically become King following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The 96-year-old monarch died peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon (September 8). The Queen’s son and successor King Charles III, who had rushed to be by her bedside, spoke of his grief soon after Buckingham Palace announced the death.
He said: "The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held."
While he is already being called King, and wife Camilla Queen Consort, the 73-year-old will not be formally proclaimed King until an Accession Council is held at St James’s Palace in London. An Accession Council is usually convened within 24 hours of the death of a sovereign.
It is being staged a day later for King Charles III because the announcement of the Queen’s death did not come until early evening on Thursday, meaning there was not enough time to set the plans in motion for Friday morning.
The Palace said: “His Majesty The King will be proclaimed at the Accession Council at 10.00hrs tomorrow morning 10th September in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace, London. The Accession Council, attended by Privy Councillors, is divided into two parts. In Part I, the Privy Council, without The King present, will proclaim the Sovereign, and formally approve various consequential Orders, including the arrangements for the Proclamation.
"Part II, is the holding by The King of His Majesty’s first Privy Council. The King will make his Declaration and read and sign an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland and approve Orders in Council which facilitate continuity of government."
BBC One have confirmed that they will be broadcasting the Proclamation live. Speaking about the matter today, a newsreader said: "That will be broadcast live here on BBC One for the first time in history. Until now, that has always remained behind closed doors."
A Principal Proclamation will be read in public for the first time by the Garter King of Arms in the open air from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James’s an hour later at 11am. It will be followed by a flurry of Proclamations around the country, with the second one at City of London at the Royal Exchange at midday on Saturday, and further Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at midday on Sunday.
Buckingham Palace issued details of the arrangements, considered the first official orders of business of a new reign, on Friday. It was confirmed cameras will be allowed inside the State Apartments to capture the proceedings for the first time in history.
In recognition of the new Sovereign, union flags will be flown at full-mast from the time of the Principal Proclamation at St James’s Palace until one hour after the Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, after which flags will return to half-mast in mourning for the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
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