Charles III will officially be proclaimed Britain's king in a ceremony on Saturday. Though the 73-year-old has automatically become the monarch following his mother, Queen Elizabeth II's death, the ceremonial Accession Council will officially announce the name of the new monarch.
In a break from tradition, the proceedings of the Accession Council, set to be held at the St. James Palace in London, will be televised for the first time in history.
What is the Accession Council, who all are part of it
The Accession Council includes members of the Privy council, Lord Mayor of London, senior judges and officials. The privy council comprises a group of senior politicians who advise the monarch. The ceremony takes place in two parts—Charles participates only in the second.
In the first part, MP Penny Mordaunt, who is the Lord President of the Privy Council, will announce the death of Queen Elizabeth, followed by the Accession Proclamation where the name of the new monarch is announced. The proclamation is then signed by the members of the Royal Family, the prime minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor and the Earl Marshall - the Duke of Norfolk, who is responsible for organising state ceremonies, the BBC stated in a report. The proclamation will also be read out the public at 11 am from a balcony at St James's Palace following a fanfare by three trumpeters. It will then also be read out in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
In the second part, Charles joins the council in the first meeting of the privy council held by the new king. According to reports, he will make his declaration "and read and sign an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland and approve Orders in Council which facilitate continuity of government.”
During the proclamation, the flags that were lowered to half-mast due to the Queen's death, will be flown at full-mast. Later, the flags will return to half-mast in mourning.
What is the coronation ceremony, when will it be held
The new king's coronation ceremony is an elaborate procedure that takes place at Westminster Abbey. It, however, is not expected to happen immediately due to the extensive arrangements involved. Queen Elizabeth II's coronation was held over 15 months after her accession to throne following her father's death.
The coronation is an Anglican religious service, carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the climax of the ceremony, he will place St Edward's Crown on Charles's head, BBC stated in a report. The St Edward's crown, set in gold and dating from 1661, is worn by the monarch only during the occasion of coronation.