London, UK
Reuters
The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II will be held on Monday, 19th September, royal officials said on Saturday, as her son Charles was officially proclaimed Britain’s new king in a colourful ceremony laden with pageantry and dating back centuries.
The death of the 96-year-monarch has provoked tears, sadness and warm tributes, not just from the queen’s own close family and many Britons, but also from around the world – reflecting her presence on the world stage for 70 years.
Britain’s King Charles III arrives at Buckingham Palace after the Accession Council ceremony during which he was proclaimed Britain’s new monarch, following the passing of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Britain, on 10th September. PICTURE: Reuters/Henry Nicholls.
“We all thought she was invincible,” said her grandson Prince William, now the heir to the throne.
“It’s been surreal,” he said during a walkabout outside Windsor Castle where he and his wife Kate appeared closely in public for the first time in two years with his younger brother Harry and his wife Meghan – a sign Elizabeth’s death might help heal a rift between Charles’ sons.
Elizabeth’s oak coffin, covered with the royal standard of Scotland and with a wreath of flowers on top, has been lying in the ballroom of Balmoral Castle, her summer home in Scotland where she died peacefully on Thursday.
On Sunday, it will be driven by hearse through remote highland villages to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, during a six-hour journey that will allow people to pay their respects.
The coffin will then be flown to London on Tuesday where it will remain at Buckingham Palace before being taken to Westminster Hall to lie in state until the funeral at Westminster Abbey at 11am on 19th September.
The death of Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has prompted an outpouring of emotion around the globe. Buildings and landmarks in Europe, America and Africa have been lit up in the red, white and blue of the United Kingdom’s flag.
Charles, 73, immediately succeeded his mother but an Accession Council met at St James’s – the most senior royal palace in the United Kingdom built for Henry VIII in the 1530s – to proclaim him as king on Saturday.
The council – formed of Privy Counsellors whose centuries-old role has been to advise the monarch – included his son and heir William, wife Camilla and Britain’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, who signed the proclamation of his accession.
Six former prime ministers, senior bishops and a swathe of politicians cried out God Save The King as the announcement was approved.
“I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of Sovereignty which have now passed to me,” Charles said. “I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set.”
Officials and elected members of the City of London Corporation attend the City Proclamation ceremony of Britain’s King Charles III, following the passing of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, at the Royal Exchange in the City of London, Britain, on 10th September. PICTURE: Reuters/Toby Melville/Pool
Later, on the Proclamation Gallery, a balcony above Friary Court of St James’s Palace, the Garter King of Arms, David White, accompanied by others in gold and red heraldic outfits read out the Principal Proclamation, as trumpets sounded.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Governor General Mary Simon, and federal cabinet ministers take part in a ceremony to proclaim the accession of King Charles III at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on 10th September. PICTURE: Reuters/Blair Gable
CANADA PROCLAIMS CHARLES KING IN CEREMONY IN OTTAWA
Canada proclaimed Charles its king on Saturday in a formal ceremony at the official residence in Ottawa of the Governor General, the monarch’s representative in Canada who performs the duties of the head of state on behalf of the crown.
Canada announced a 10-day mourning period for the queen. Although Canada ceased being a colony of Britain in 1867, it remained in the British Empire until 1982, and is still a member of the Commonwealth of former empire countries that have the British monarch as head of state.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon signed an order in council proclaiming the new sovereign after a Cabinet meeting.
Trumpets then announced the exit of Canada’s chief herald from the residence. He read the order in council proclaiming the new monarch to the public in both English and French, ending with, “Long live the King!”
The ceremony ended with a 21-gun salute and the armed forces band playing God Save the King.
– STEVE SCHERER, Ottawa, Canada/Reuters
Soldiers in traditional scarlet uniforms shouted “hip, hip, hurrah” as White called for three cheers for the king.
Watching on were a few hundred people allowed into the court, including small children on parents’ shoulders, a woman clutching flowers and elderly people on mobility scooters.
Royal pomp
Charles is the 41st monarch in a line that traces its origins to the Norman King William the Conqueror who captured the English throne in 1066. Saturday’s events reflected proclamations announcing new kings and queens that date back hundreds of years.
He became king and head of state not only of the United Kingdom but of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
It was the first proclamation of a monarch to be televised. And for most Britons, it was the first such event in their lifetime as Elizabeth was the only monarch they have ever known. Charles himself was just three when she became queen in 1952.
Britain has declared a period of mourning until the state funeral for Elizabeth, which will be a public holiday. Leaders from around the world are expected to attend, including US President Joe Biden, who said he would be there.
Charles’ coronation will take place at a later date – and the timing for that is not yet clear. There was a 16-month gap between Elizabeth becoming queen and her coronation in 1953.
He has already made his eldest son William, 40, the new Prince of Wales, the title traditionally held by the heir to the throne, and William’s wife Kate becomes Princess of Wales, a role last held by the late Princess Diana.
The couple had a highly public falling out with Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, after they decided to exit royal duties and move to California in 2020.
Harry and Meghan coincidentally happened to be in Britain this past week to attend some charity events and had not even been expected to see William – until the death of their grandmother.
However, the foursome stood together and chatted briefly, although they looked rather awkward and did not spend much time together during the 40-minute walkabout in Windsor, which followed an invitation from William to his brother.
It was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family, a royal source said.
Pictured is a Royal Salute of 41 rounds fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park. Members of the Armed Forces have taken part in Proclamation gun salutes around the UK. PICTURE: Corporal Cameron Eden RLC/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022
“Very emotional”
Meanwhile at Balmoral, the Queen’s three younger children – Anne, Andrew and Edward – and their own families also made a public appearance, visiting a nearby church before they inspected the messages among the flowers and thanked the crowd for their support.
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Princess Eugenie, one of Prince Andrew’s daughters, was seen wiping away tears and hugging her father.
“It was a very emotional moment, it was very heartfelt,” said Ian Smith, a local businessman who was at the front of the barriers. “It was really special that they came to acknowledge us and we could show them our support.”
Elizabeth, who was the world’s oldest and longest-serving head of state, came to the throne following the death of her father King George VI on 6th February, 1952, when she was just 25.
Over the decades she witnessed a seismic change in the social, political and economic structure of her nation. She won praise for modernising the monarchy during her long reign, despite intense media scrutiny and the often highly public travails of her family.
– Additional reporting by MUVIJA M, PETER NICHOLLS, and ALISTAIR SMOUT in London and ANDREW MACASKILL in Balmoral, Scotland
