Charles III was formally proclaimed the new King of Great Britain by the Accession Council on Saturday in a history-laden ceremony following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The council, which will be televised for the first time, is an age-old formality for recognizing the sovereignty of the new king, even though he automatically became monarch after the death of the queen.
Charles, 73, officially took his vows as the new king, saying he was “deeply aware” of the “duties and heavy responsibility of sovereignty”.
Several hundred privy councilors, including current Prime Minister Liz Truss and all her living predecessors, Charles’ wife Camilla, and his eldest son and heir William were all in attendance.
Charles said his mother, who died Thursday in Balmoral at age 96, “set an example of lifelong love and selfless service,” which he vowed to follow.
“I know that I will be sustained by the affection and loyalty of the peoples to whose sovereign I have been called,” he said.
He added that he was “deeply encouraged by the support of my beloved wife”.
The Accession Council, held in a large room in St. James’s Palace decorated with crimson and gold, took place in two parts, the first of which was absent as they proclaimed him king.
The Clerk of the Council announced that “Prince Charles Philip Arthur George has now, through the death of our female sovereign of happy memory, become our King Charles III…God save the King!”
The assembled councilors then repeated “God save the king”.
Charles’ accession will be publicly announced by a trumpet fanfare and a proclamation from a palace balcony at 1000 GMT.
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