Charles automatically became king when his mother Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, but the accession ceremony is a key constitutional and ceremonial step in introducing the new monarch to the country. The ceremony at St James’s Palace, a royal residence in London, is attended by the Council of Accession, which is made up of senior politicians and officials who advise the monarch. They met without Charles, formally confirming his title, King Charles III. The king then joined them to make a personal statement, pledging to follow his mother’s “inspiring example” as he takes on the duties of monarch. “I know how deeply you and the whole nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathize with me in this irreparable loss which we have all suffered,” he said. From left, Prince William. Camilla, the Queen Consort; and King Charles III, stand in the throne room of St. James’s Palace during the Council of Accession ceremony. (Jonathan Brady/The Associated Press) It is the first time the ceremony has been held since 1952, when Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne. Charles, 73, is joined at the ceremony by his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, and his eldest son Prince William. William is now heir to the throne and known by the title of Charles, Prince of Wales. After Charles’ personal declaration, David White, the King of Arms, read the main proclamation from a balcony at St James’s Palace, flanked by trumpeters in ornate robes. Garter King of Arms David White, centre, reads the proclamation announcing the new ruler, King Charles III, from the balcony of the Court of Frisia at St James’s Palace in London. (Richard Heathcote/The Associated Press) “Three cheers for His Majesty the King,” White shouted, eliciting a “hip, hip, pee” response from the soldiers below. The death of Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has prompted an outpouring of tributes from home and around the world.
King Charles reads the statement
The Lord Mayor of London and aldermen are in attendance, along with high commissioners from the Commonwealth realms. High Commissioner for Canada Ralph Goodale was also invited to attend. The proclamation will be accompanied by salutes of arms and heralds traveling to the Mansion House in the City of London, where it will be read at the Royal Exchange. The proclamation will be read publicly in the other UK capitals — Edinburgh in Scotland, Belfast in Northern Ireland and Cardiff in Wales — and other locations. A ceremony to proclaim the King as Canada’s new sovereign will be held at 10 a.m. ET at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Although he is already king, Charles’ coronation will take place at a later date – and the timing of this is not yet clear. There was a gap of 16 months between Elizabeth becoming Queen in 1952 and her coronation in 1953.
