Charles III formally proclaimed Britain’s new monarch

 

King Charles III has been proclaimed as Britain’s new monarch.

 

His emergence followed the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday at 96 years old.

 

He was pronounced a king by the Accession Council on Saturday at St James’s Palace.

 

The 73-year-old King Charles III spoke briefly in front of previous prime ministers, judges, and other authorities.

 

The King swore an oath, paid homage to the Queen, and promised to emulate her.

 

King Charles III also said the date of the Queen’s state funeral — which is yet to be announced — would be a bank holiday.

 

David White, the Garter King of Arms, read out the official proclamation of Charles as Britain’s new king from a balcony above London’s St James’s Palace.

 

He then announced “God Save The King”, to the accompaniment of trumpets and jubilant people.

 

As the principal proclamation was delivered, there were gun salutes at the Tower of London and in Hyde Park.

 

Further proclamations are expected to be read publicly tomorrow in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

 

As a mark of the nation’s new King, flags around the country will now return to the full mast for around 24 hours.

 

After proclamations are over, the flags will return to half-mast in a sign of respect for the royal family.

 

Charles is now the king and head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.