London: To a fanfare of trumpets and a salute of guns, Charles III was formally proclaimed king in a pompous ceremony on Saturday, pledging to serve his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for life. From the balcony of St. James’s Palace, after a historic boarding council meeting of royalty, clergy and government, a feathered bicorn in his hat hailed Charles as “the only legitimate and rightful ” proclaimed himself a monarch.
Eight trumpeters accompanied the proclamation, followed by Red-jacketed Coldstream Guard soldiers in distinctive bearskin hats who gave three cheers to the new king. A relic from the past, when gun salutes rang out across Britain and the need to announce the birth of a new king to the public, the proclamation was also read publicly in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Charles, 73, automatically became monarch after the Queen’s death on Thursday. An emotional Prince Charles set the tone for his reign in a televised address Friday.
“Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of the country you have served so diligently all this time,” he said. Quoting Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” he added, “May the flock of angels sing to you in peace.”
Headlined by The Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mail, The Sun and Daily Star, the speech dominated the front pages of British newspapers on Saturday, along with heartfelt tributes to his mother. Charles looked pensive when he arrived at the palace. The king was also featured with the words “God save the king”.
The new king also named his eldest son and heir, Prince William, 40, as the new Prince of Wales, and expressed his love for his younger son Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan. The move means William’s wife, Kate, will inherit the title of Princess of Wales, once held by his mother and Charles’ ex-wife, the late Princess Diana.
flowers, cheers, kisses
Crowds have gathered outside Buckingham Palace to mourn the Queen and wish Charles well. The oldest monarch to ascend the British throne, he received flowers, cheers and even a kiss after traveling from the Balmoral lair where his 96-year-old mother passed away peacefully.
This was preceded by the ringing of church bells and the firing of ceremonial gunshots in honor of the deceased monarch as they attempted to come to terms with the passing of the only monarch ever best known. As Prince Charles’ pre-recorded speech was broadcast nationwide, dignitaries attended a memorial service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where the updated national anthem was played for the first time .
“Suddenly you feel like he is you,” said West London retiree Barbara Lewis, who was among the hundreds of mourners outside the domed landmark. Buckingham Palace has announced an extended period of mourning for Charles and other members of the royal family from now until seven days after his funeral.
The date of the funeral, which will be attended by the heads of state and government, has not yet been officially announced, but it is expected to be on Monday, September 19. President Joe Biden has said he will attend. The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not. The Queen’s London palace draws thousands of mourners, laden with flowers in one of the many poignant signs of her true respect that was felt for her.
“Keep everything going”
Leading a two-day tribute to the Queen in parliament, British Prime Minister Liz Truss (who was appointed only by the late monarch on Tuesday) acknowledged that Charles had a “great responsibility” and called for the country’s support. At his first formal audience at Buckingham Palace on Friday, Charles said his mother’s death was “a moment I was dreading, as many of you know, but you kept everything going.” I’m trying,’ he told her.
The government has said there is no obligation for organizations to cease operations during the 10-day period of mourning, but many do so out of respect. England’s Premier League has postponed all matches this weekend, and rail and postal workers have called off an upcoming strike over wages amid soaring inflation and energy prices that have weighed on Britain. The Queen’s death comes as the government rushes forward with emergency legislation to address the war-fueled economic deprivation that marked the beginning of her reign in 1952.
Since spending an unscheduled night in the hospital in October 2021, Elizabeth has rarely been seen in public. In her last official photo on Tuesday, where she named Truss, she was visibly thin and hunched over, though she was smiling. Her new leader was Winston, her 15th prime minister in her reign that began with Churchill in 1952.
lying down
Elizabeth’s body is expected to remain in Balmoral before being transported to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Sunday. From the Scottish capital, her coffin was moved to London on Tuesday and is expected to lie in the states for several days. Expect to drive past the Catafalque of Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament.
The coronation of Prince Charles is an elaborate ceremony steeped in tradition and history, taking place in the same historical setting for centuries, though the date is yet to be determined. Queen Elizabeth II ascended to her throne at just 25 years old, in a devastated post-war world ruled by politicians from Churchill to Mao Zedong to Joseph her Stalin. In the decades that followed, the last vestiges of Britain’s vast empire crumbled, and at home, Britain’s exit from the EU shook the kingdom’s foundations.
Her family endured a series of scandals and Diana’s death in a car accident in Paris in 1997. However, she has consistently maintained her popularity and was head of state not only for the United Kingdom, but also for her 14 former British colonies, including Australia and Canada.
