The protocol is followed step by step, in the pure respect of British tradition. After delivering his first televised speech as sovereign – a recorded address – and then being sung on Friday evening, for the first time in 70 years, the British anthem ‘God save the King’ in its male version, Charles III was officially proclaimed king this Saturday, two days after the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. At 73, he is the oldest British monarch at the start of his reign.
The proclamation was read shortly after 10 a.m. (11 a.m. Paris time) at St. James’s Palace, London, where the Accession Board met for the historic ceremony – for the first time publicly broadcast. This group of dignitaries is made up of certain members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and several Ministers of State, two Archbishops of the Church of England, the Lord Mayor of the City, as well as the approximately seven hundred members of the monarch’s “privy council”. Situation requires, all were dressed in black.
Parliament’s allegiance
The proclamation must then be read at 11 a.m. (12 p.m. in Paris) on the balcony of the palace and then relayed by the King of Arms of the Order of the Garter and half a dozen heralds in a carriage. They will also read it in Trafalgar Square, then at the Royal Exchange, a building located in the heart of the City. Separate proclamations will also be read Sunday at noon in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Parliament will then take a pledge of allegiance and express its condolences. In the afternoon, the new king will receive the Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and the main ministers of his government.
At Buckingham Palace on Friday, Charles III addressed his people for the first time as sovereign in a televised address. In his speech, he paid a moving tribute to Elizabeth II, his “darling mother”, who died at 96 after 70 years and 7 months of reign. She was an “inspiration and example” to him and his family. “As the Queen had done with unwavering devotion, I too solemnly pledge myself now, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles which are at the heart of our nation,” a- he declared in a sober and confident tone.
Portraits of Charles are on the front page of all British newspapers this Saturday. “God save the King”, soberly titles the Times, with a photo of Charles with his head bowed, as if in contemplation. Many daily newspapers use a quote from the new king. “I will strive to serve with loyalty, respect, love”: these three words cross the covers of The Independentfrom Guardian Where from FinancialTimes. the Sun has chosen a photo of Charles behind his mother with these few words: “To my dear mother, thank you”.
If he is infinitely less popular than his mother, who had known how to maintain the prestige of the monarchy, giving no interviews and keeping her opinions to herself, Charles III was given a standing ovation when he arrived in Buckingham on Friday afternoon at his return from Scotland. It was at her castle in Balmoral, Scotland, that Elizabeth II died “peacefully” on Thursday.
The King has made it known that the royal mourning – which involves family, staff and representatives of the Royal Household – will last until seven days after the Queen’s funeral, the date of which has not been confirmed. The royal residences will remain closed until after the funeral and the flags there will be at half mast. National mourning, decreed by the government, must last until the day of the funeral. The Queen will be buried privately in the Chapel at Windsor Castle.