Bank holiday for Queen’s funeral and Charles formally made King
It was announced as part of today's historic accession council
Last updated 21st Sep 2022
King Charles has formally been proclaimed monarch today at a historic Accession Council.
During this ceremony, His Majesty approved an order meaning the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a bank holiday, although a date for the funeral is yet to be confirmed.
The council met at the State Apartments of St James’s Palace from 10am, with this being televised for the first time.
Charles automatically became King after the death of his mother, but the Accession Council is usually convened at St James’s in London within 24 hours of the death of a sovereign to formalise the new monarch.
It has been staged a day later for King Charles III because the announcement of the Queen’s death 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 paid tribute to his mother
King Charles III paid tribute to the reign of the late Queen, “unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion”, as he was formally declared the nation’s new monarch.
During a poignant and sombre meeting of the Accession Council, the King spoke movingly about his mother and the grief his family is experiencing, but said the “sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and brothers” had been the “greatest consolation”.
Watched by the Queen, the new Prince of Wales and more than 200 privy counsellors – including six former prime ministers – the King pledged himself to the task now before him and the “heavy responsibilities of Sovereignty”.
The day included a moment of pomp and pageantry with David White, Garter King of Arm, in his colourful regalia and flanked by other Officers of Arms and Sergeants at Arms, reading the proclamation of the new King from a balcony at St James’s Palace.
Not all Privy Councillors attended
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 have been put in place.
Just 200 have been summoned today, among them were ex-prime ministers Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson – Cabinet members, former Archbishops of Canterbury and York with everyone standing, a convention believed to have been established by Queen Victoria to keep such meetings short.
The current premier Liz Truss was part of the proceedings and stood at the head of the council with Camilla, William, Archbishop of York Justin Welby and other figures as the clerk read the proclamation.
Charles’s address was made in the second part of the ceremony – when proceedings moved to the palace’s throne room – and was effectively the King hosting his first Privy Council meeting.
Proclamations read out across UK
A Principal Proclamation has been read in public for the first time by the Garter King of Arms in the open air from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James’s, from just after 11am.
It will be followed by a flurry of Proclamations around the country, with the second one at City of London at the Royal Exchange at midday on Saturday, and further Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at midday on Sunday.
In recognition of the new Sovereign, union flags are being flown at full-mast from the time of the Principal Proclamation at St James’s Palace until one hour after the Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, after which flags will return to half-mast in mourning for the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
Tributes to Queen Elizabeth II
People across the UK have been paying tribute to Her Majesty across the past few days
Flowers are being laid outside many of the Queen's homes, following her death. Here a family lay flowers outside Windsor Castle in Berkshire, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II
Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace the evening after the news of the Queen's death was made public.
Mourners gather at Buckingham Palace placing flowers and paying their respect
Messages on the flowers included this 'Forever our Queen' message
Even the gates of Buckingham palace were adorned with flowers
Books of condolence have been set up in many places across the UK, including this one at Liverpool Cathedral
Birmingham Cathedral also had a space for remembrance
People were queuing to sign the book of condolence in Birmingham
Flowers at the gates of Balmoral in Scotland
Brighton UK 9th September 2022 - A tribute to The Queen at a bus stop in Brighton today after her death at the age of 96 was announced yesterday .
Floral tributes to Queen Elizabeth II at the gate of Buckingham Palace.
London, England, UK. 9th Sep, 2022.
Newmarket, UK. 9 September, 2022. Floral tributes left in memory to Queen Elizabeth II after her death on 8th September on a bronze statue designed by Etienne Millner, which is situated at the Newmarket Racecourse entrance which was a gift from the town in the year of her 90th birthday. Pictured is Matt Hancock Conservative MP, for West Suffolk, with his floral tribute the Queen.
Mourners make their way along the Long Walk to pay their respects at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Union Flag flies at half mast at the City Chambers in Edinburgh, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
John Houston of the Merchant Navy Association pays his respects at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Floral tributes and messages at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Floral tributes and messages at the gates of Sandringham House on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Minutes of silence before the game to pay respect after the death of Queen Elizabeth II before the UEFA Europa Conference League match at the London Stadium, London.
London, England, 8th September 2022.
Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who died on Thursday 8th September.
London, England, UK. 8th Sep, 2022.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie looks at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Floral tributes left at the gates of Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson looks at floral tributes at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Floral tributes continue to be left outside several locations across the country and the world. Here, on 11th September, at the gates of Buckingham Palace, the crowds continue to gather and leave flowers and other tributes.
Six-year-old Terezka Cernianska leaves flowers at the gates of Balmoral in Scotland, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Large crowds gather to show their respect along the A90, Forfar, as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is taken to Edinburgh.
Floral tributes left next to a fountain in St James' Park outside Buckingham Palace.