LONDON — The six residing former British prime ministers gathered for the rarest of ceremonies in London on Saturday to witness King Charles III be formally proclaimed the nation’s new monarch.

Throughout a sombre assembly of the Accession Council, the brand new king stated he was “deeply conscious” of “the duties and heavy obligations of sovereignty” which have now handed to him from his late mom Queen Elizabeth II.

“In taking over these obligations, I shall attempt to observe the inspiring instance I’ve been set in upholding constitutional authorities, and to hunt the peace, concord and prosperity of the peoples of those islands, of the Commonwealth realms and territories all through the world,” he advised a packed room of senior politicians and different dignitaries at St James’s Palace.

Though Charles grew to become king the second his mom died Thursday, based on centuries-old British conference an Accession Council should meet to formally declare his coming to the throne. It final met in 1952. This yr, the entire occasion was televised for the primary time.

The historic event introduced collectively Conservative and Labour ex-premiers John Main, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa Might and Boris Johnson, in addition to present Prime Minister Liz Truss. They have been joined by previous and current Cupboard ministers, the previous Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Queen Camilla, and the king’s oldest son and inheritor William.

Additionally among the many counsellors was former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who misplaced his Sheffield seat in 2017 and is now president of world affairs at tech large Meta, and the present and former Scottish First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond.

The historic ceremony was led by Lord President of the Council Penny Mordaunt, who was solely handed the job in Tuesday evening’s Cupboard reshuffle by new PM Truss.

Through the first a part of the ceremony, Clerk of the Privy Council Richard Tilbrook learn the proclamation confirming Charles as Britain’s “solely lawful and rightful liege lord.” The clerk then declared: “God save the king,” and greater than 200 counsellors repeated the well-known phrase.

Within the second a part of the assembly, the king made his handle and took the oath to protect the Church of Scotland, the place powers of state and church are break up. William, the brand new prince of Wales, additionally signed the oath.

Exterior, a crowd of 1000’s sang the refrain of the — now reworded — nationwide anthem and gave three cheers for the brand new monarch.

Larger crowds waited for Charles III exterior Buckingham Palace, the place he arrived after the ceremony in his state Rolls Royce to host an viewers with Truss, members of her Cupboard and opposition leaders.

Prince William additionally paid his first public tribute to the queen, whom he stated was by his facet at his happiest and saddest moments. “I knew this present day would come, however it will likely be a while earlier than the truth of life with out grannie will really really feel actual,” he stated.

On Saturday afternoon, different members of the royal household, together with the king’s three siblings and their kids, attended a prayer service at Crathie Kirk, close to Balmoral, the place the queen’s physique stays.  

In parliament, senior MPs and members of the federal government together with Truss, Home of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and Labour’s longest-serving feminine MP Harriet Harman, pledged their allegiance to the brand new king, with extra anticipated to take action at a later date.

This system of commemorative occasions will proceed Sunday afternoon, when the king will obtain the realm excessive commissioners and Overseas Secretary James Cleverly in illustration of the U.Okay. authorities.

The queen’s coffin will likely be taken by highway to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh Sunday at a sluggish tempo to permit mourners to pay their respects, based on a senior palace official.

On Monday, the coffin will likely be taken in procession to St Giles’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, the place it is going to lie till Tuesday, earlier than being flown to London, the place it is going to lie in state for 4 days in Westminster Corridor from Wednesday till the morning of her state funeral on September 19. Throughout as of late 1000’s of persons are anticipated to go to parliament to bid farewell to the late monarch.

On Monday, Truss will attend the presentation of addresses in Westminster Corridor, and can be part of King Charles III as he leads the nationwide mourning throughout the U.Okay., with providers in Scotland that very same afternoon, in Northern Eire Tuesday, and in Wales on Friday.