Two days after the passing of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral at the age of 96, Prime Minister Liz Truss departed Number 10 Downing Street for St. James’ Palace to witness the ceremonial proclamation of King Charles III this morning.
The Accession Council will formally declare Charles III at the palace at 10 am in a ceremony that will be broadcast on television for the first time.
The Mother of the House, the high commissioners of the 14 Commonwealth nations where the monarch is Head of State, and 250 dignitaries make up the Accession Council, a group of advisors that dates back to the time of the Norman kings. The first meeting of the Accession Council will take place without the King.
Ms. Truss’s choice for Lord President of the Privy Council, Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt, will make the announcement of the Queen’s passing. The Accession Proclamation’s contents is then read out by the Council clerk, who also includes Charles’ chosen reigning title, Charles III.
A number of individuals, including Camilla, the Queen Consort, the Prince of Wales, Justin Welby, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York, and the Prime Minister, sign the proclamation.
Following a moment of silence, the Lord President reads the remaining items of business, which include instructions for the gun salutes in Hyde Park and the Tower of London as well as public proclamations.
At 10.20 am, Charles III is scheduled to arrive for the second portion of the council, which will only be attended by privy counsellors, and make a personal statement on the passing of the Queen. He will swear an oath to protect the Church of Scotland and sign two papers to prove it, with witnesses including his wife Camilla and son Prince William. The proclamation will then be signed by privy counsellors as they depart.
The Principal Proclamation is then made at 11 a.m. It will be read from St. James’s balcony that looks out over Friary Court. The Earl Marshal, various Officers of Arms, and the Serjeants at Arms will be present while the Garter King of Arms reads the proclamation. The declaration will now be read out for the first time in the public.
For around 24 hours, or until one hour after the proclamations are issued, flags will also be flying at half-staff in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. After then, they will return to half-mast in respect for the Queen.
There will also be gun salutes at the Tower of London and Hyde Park.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort view floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace
British Prime Minister Liz Truss leaves No10 this early morning via the side door
Police officers stand on duty in Friary Court at St James’s Palace in London
Police officers march past Friary Court at St James’s Palace in London
Police officers stand on duty in Friary Court at St James’s Palace in London
Guards are seen at Buckingham Palace, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II
Mid-afternoon, members of Ms Truss’ Cabinet will have their first meeting with the King just days after the Prime Minister formed her new Government.
Senior ministers attending the Accession Council at St James’s will travel to Buckingham Palace for an audience with the monarch.
Ms Truss, who was invited to form a Government by the late Queen on Tuesday, had her initial audience with the King on Friday.
The Prime Minister curtsied as she was ushered in by a Palace aide for the first of what will be their regular weekly encounters. As she offered her condolences, the King shook her hand and thanked her, saying: ‘You are very kind for coming – I know how busy you are.’
He added: ‘But it’s been so touching this afternoon when we arrived here, all those people come to give their condolences.’
Ms Truss again repeated: ‘Your Majesty, my very greatest sympathies.’ He replied: ‘You are very kind. It was the moment I have been dreading, as I know a lot of people have. We’ll try to keep everything going. Come, come have a seat.’
Earlier, the Prime Minister had led tributes in the House of Commons to the Queen as she urged the country to support their new monarch.
Those tributes will continue during rare Saturday sittings of both the Commons and the House of Lords.
Proceedings in the lower chamber will begin at 1pm with a small number of senior MPs taking an oath of allegiance to the King, and are expect to continue to around 10pm.