ONE of the first acts of Charles III after he was formally proclaimed King was to affirm the independence of the Church of Scotland.
After the formal ascension ceremony yesterday, which was televised for the first time at the new King’s request, he made an oath “relating to the security of the Church of Scotland”.
Although he is now head of the Church of England – like all monarchs of England since the time of Henry VIII – Charles is not the supreme governor of the Church of Scotland.
The Church of Scotland (the Kirk) is not state controlled, and neither the Scottish nor the Westminster Parliaments are involved in Kirk appointments.
The Kirk’s status as the national Church in Scotland dates from 1690, when Parliament restored Scottish Presbyterianism, and is guaranteed under the Act of Union of Scotland and England of 1707.
Its Presbyterian governing system means that no one person or group within the Church has more influence or say than any other.
The sovereign has the right to attend the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, but not to take part in its deliberations. There is a ceremonial role for the Lord High Commissioner who is appointed by the monarch. The late Queen on occasion filled the role personally, such as when she opened the General Assembly in 1977 and 2002, her Silver and Golden Jubilee years.
As the supreme governor of the Church of England and “Defender of the Faith”, the monarch formally appoints its clerics to high-ranking positions, such as archbishop, on the advice of the UK Prime Minister who is advised by church leaders.
After yesterday’s Ascension Council ceremony, King Charles also declared there would be a bank holiday to mark the Queen’s funeral on September 19.
During the ceremony at St James’s Palace in London, which was attended by judges and senior politicians, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former first minister Alex Salmond, the clerk of the Privy Council, Richard Tilbrook, proclaimed Charles “King, head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith”, before declaring “God Save the King”.
Keeping with tradition, the new monarch did not attend the ceremony, only joining after he was proclaimed monarch, to hold his first Privy Council meeting.
He said it was his “most sorrowful duty” to announce the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, who died on Thursday at Balmoral Castle.
Speaking at the following Privy Council meeting, he said: “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.”
“[The Queen’s] reign was unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.”
He dedicated the rest of his life to serving as King.
Afterwards, cheers of “God save the King” and applause broke outside the Palace followed by the throng of thousands of people singing the national anthem.
Similar proclamations will take place at noon today in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
At Balmoral yesterday, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and their families met well-wishers and viewed tributes following a prayer service at Crathie Kirk.
Princess Eugenie laid a posy of flowers and Prince Andrew thanked people for paying their respects to his late mother.
Throughout the day, a constant stream of people of all nationalities and ages arrived to lay flowers and mark the passing of the Queen.
In London, the new King held an audience with Prime Minster Liz Truss and her Cabinet before meeting opposition leaders SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, Labour’s Keir Starmer and Lib Dem Ed Davey.
The Russian president Vladimir Putin was the first world leader to send congratulations to Charles on becoming King.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Liz Truss and other party leaders took the oath of allegiance to the new King as Parliament met for a rare Saturday sitting.
