King Charles III has made a personal declaration on the death of his beloved mother Queen Elizabeth II today and vowed to uphold 'constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands, and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world' - as Britain's new monarch was formally announced at St James's Palace in London today.
Charles automatically became Sovereign on the death of his mother aged 96 at Balmoral Castle on Thursday afternoon, but the Accession Council - an ancient body of advisers that dates back as far as the time of the Norman Conquest - has formally announced his role as Head of State today.
Broadcast cameras were allowed into the historic event giving the world a first glimpse of an ancient ceremony dating back centuries - and one of the first changes to convention instigated by the new King.
At 11am, trumpets then sounded from the balcony of St James's Palace as the Principal Proclamation announcing the King was read out. Crowds gathered outside the palace as the King was officially proclaimed Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including Supreme Head of the Church of England and Commander-in-Chief of Britain's Armed Forces, as well as Head of State of the Commonwealth and British territories around the world.
Gun salutes at Hyde Park, the Tower of London, Edinburgh Castle, Hillsborough Castle and Cardiff Castle were then fired before the National Anthem was performed by The Band of the Coldstream Guards alongside eight State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry. They were accompanied by the St James's Palace Detachment of The King's Guard made up of Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards. The crowd of well-wishers joined the King's Guard gathered outside the palace in three cries of 'hip hip hooray' for the King.
On a balcony above Friary Court in St James's, David White - an official known as the Garter King of Arms - read the proclamation. He ended by saying: 'Given at St James's Palace this 10th day of September in year of our Lord 2022.' In the moments after, 'God save the King' was shouted out.
