King Charles III was named Canada’s head of state on Saturday in a ceremony that included a heraldic bugle, a 21-gun salute and a moment of remembrance for his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived at Rideau Hall about 10 a.m. local time with his youngest son Hadrien and laid flowers at a makeshift memorial for the queen, who died on Thursday.
He and members of the federal cabinet and privy council met before the ceremony as part of the protocol required to officially declare the new sovereign.
The Prime Minister asked Governor Mary Simon for permission to proceed, and after she said yes, they both signed the order in council and the declaration of accession.
The solemn moment unfolded at the same table used by Queen Elizabeth II during her first official visit to Canada in October 1957, and was followed by a standing ovation from those gathered in the Rideau Hall ballroom.
Dr. Samy Khalid, Canada’s chief preacher, led a procession outside moments later.  After a fanfare played on heraldic trumpets, he read the declaration of accession in both official languages.  As he spoke, an artillery salute was fired by members of the Royal Canadian Armed Forces.
“We (the Governor-General and the Privy Council) do declare that His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now after the death of our late sovereign, Charles III, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and others of his kingdoms and territories, king, head of the commonwealth, defender of the faith in whom we acknowledge faith and allegiance,” Khalid said.
“Long live the King,” he concluded, with those gathered echoing the phrase.
The Canadian flag was raised to mark the accession of the new sovereign, but was immediately lowered to half-staff as mourning for the Queen continues.
The induction ceremony at Rideau Hall comes as the federal government prepares a series of events to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy.
Protocol calls for 10 days of mourning after the queen’s death, but the rules surrounding the actual funeral are not as rigid.  British officials announced Saturday that the Queen’s state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey on September 19.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 10, 2022.
— With files from Michael Tutton in Halifax.