Charles III to be Proclaimed King after Vowing ‘Lifelong Service’

LONDON, KOMPAS.com - Britain’s Charles III will officially be proclaimed king in a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 10, a day after he vowed in his first speech to mourning subjects that he would emulate his “darling mama”, Queen Elizabeth II.

The 73-year-old automatically became monarch upon the queen’s death Thursday, Sept. 8, but an Accession Council ceremony at St James’s Palace early Saturday is a constitutional formality to recognize his sovereignty.

Featuring trumpets and a balcony proclamation, the pomp-filled protocol is the latest part of a 10-day program of official mourning -- which will last even longer for the royals -- held across Britain leading up to the queen’s funeral.

An emotional Charles set the tone for his reign in a televised address Friday, Sept. 9, in which he hailed his mother’s “unswerving devotion” during her record-breaking seven decades on the throne.

“Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well lived, a promise with destiny kept, and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today,” he said.

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The new king also named his elder son and next heir Prince William, 40, as the new Prince of Wales, while expressing love for his younger son Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan.

The move means William’s wife Kate assumes the Princess of Wales title once held by his mother and Charles’ ex-wife, the late Princess Diana.

Flower, cheers, kisses

Crowds have massed outside Buckingham Palace both to mourn the queen and to wish Charles well, some of them shouting “God Save the King” as he greeted them on his return from Scotland on Friday.

The oldest monarch to ascend to the British throne, he received flowers, cheers, and even kisses after traveling from the Balmoral retreat where his 96-year-old mother passed away peacefully.

Earlier, church bells and ceremonial gun salutes for the departed monarch rang out across the United Kingdom as it tries to come to terms with the passing of the only monarch most have ever known.

Charles will be formally proclaimed king by the Accession Council, comprising other royals and political and religious figures including Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prime Minister Liz Truss, and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The centuries-old proceedings will be televised for the first time.

The council will first meet without Charles at 10:00 am local time inside St James’s Palace to proclaim him. Then he will join it to make a formal declaration as king and sign official documents.