Charles to be formally proclaimed King tomorrow in traditional historic ceremony
09.09.2022 - 12:11
/ ok.co.uk
Charles will be formally proclaimed the new King in a traditional, historic ceremony on Saturday. The monarch, 73, automatically became King upon the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, at the age of 96 on Thursday.
An Accession Council is usually convened at St James’s Palace in London within 24 hours of the death of a sovereign, but it will be later on this occasion because the announcement of the death of the Queen did not come until early evening on Thursday, meaning there was not enough time to set the plans in motion for Friday morning. King Charles III, like his siblings Princess Anne, 71, Prince Andrew, 62, and Prince Edward, 58, was left heartbroken by his mum's passing.
In a statement shared on Clarence House social media accounts, he said: "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother." Historically, the entire Privy Council is summoned to the Accession Council to oversee the formal proclamation of a new monarch.
But the number of privy counsellors – who are lifetime members and mostly past and present politicians – now stands at more than 700, so restrictions have been put in place. Just 200 counsellors will be summoned, and the others will be asked to enter an annual ballot for a few remaining seats.The decision prompted a row over the lack of consultation and the loss of the key duty, the Telegraph has reported.
Parliament should meet as soon as practicable after the death of a sovereign but the Accession Council must take place first. Penny Mordaunt was appointed Lord President of the Council, who has ministerial responsibility
.