King Charles III has been formally announced as the nation’s new sovereign during a meeting of the Accession Council.
The proclamation confirming Charles as King was signed by members of the Privy Council including William, the new Prince of Wales, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Lord President of the Council Penny Mordaunt, Prime Minister Liz Truss and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
A chant of ‘God save the King’ then erupted in the ancient St James’s Palace ceremony, which is being live-streamed for the first time on television.
Members of the Privy Council, including six former Prime Ministers, are assembled for the historic ceremony in black suits, the first since 1952.
A celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the ascention of the new King Charles III is now beginning across the country.
Gun salutes are now being fired at the Tower of London and Hyde Park.
To coincide with the Principal Proclamation at 11am, a Royal Salute of 41 rounds is being fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) in Hyde Park, and a Royal Salute of 62 rounds from HM Tower of London fired by the Honourable Artillery Company.
A Royal Salute of 21 rounds will be fired from all other saluting stations on land and sea.
All rounds will be fired at 10 second intervals
The Principal Proclamation has just been 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. It concludes with the words:
It reads, “Publish and proclaim that the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the death of our late sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful lieged Lord, Charles III.
“By the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of his other realms and territories, King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith, to which we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection.
“Beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless His Majesty with long and happy years to reign over us. Given at St James’s Palace, this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 2022.”
Telegraph