Charles III, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son, has been proclaimed King.
The proclamation was signed by members of the Privy Council including Prince William, the new Prince of Wales, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Lord President of the Council Penny Mordaunt, Prime Minister Liz Truss and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
It came after Lord President of the Council Penny Mordaunt confirmed Queen Elizabeth II's death.
She said: “My lords, it is my sad duty to inform you that Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has passed away on Thursday the 8th of September 2022, at Balmoral Castle."
The new King was missing from proceedings and did not witness senior figures taking part in the ceremony.
Broadcast cameras were allowed into the historic event giving the world a first glimpse of an ancient ceremony dating back centuries.
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer alongside six former Prime Ministers in attendance: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Theresa May and John Major
Kirsty O'Connor
Making his declaration, the King said: “My lords, ladies and gentlemen, it is my most sorrowful duty to announce to you the death of my beloved mother the Queen.
“I know how deeply you, the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathise with me in the irreparable loss we’ve all suffered.
“It is the greatest consolation to me to know the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and brothers.
“And that such overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family in our loss.”
He also approved an order that the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a bank holiday.
Applause and cheers of ‘God save the King’ broke out outside St James’s Palace after the accession proclamation, before a crowd of thousands sang the chorus of the national anthem, singing ‘King’ in place of ‘Queen’.
Historically, the entire Privy Council is summoned to the Accession Council to oversee the formal proclamation of a new monarch.
But with the number of privy counsellors – who are lifetime members and mostly past and present politicians – now standing at more than 700, restrictions were put in place meaning around 200 were summoned.
King Charles III addressing the Privy Council
POOL
