LONDON — King Charles III was publicly proclaimed Britain’s new monarch Saturday, in a modern version of an Anglo-Saxon ceremony steeped in political symbolism that was televised for the first time.
The event at St. James’s Palace in London was followed by gun salutes, fanfare and declarations across the United Kingdom. The meeting of the Accession Council was attended by Charles, his son and heir William, whose new title is Prince of Wales, and wife Camilla, Queen Consort, as well as a host of senior political and religious figures.
A statement was issued to the public from the balcony of the palace and read throughout Britain.
The ceremony is part of long-established and highly choreographed plans for the days of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday. Buckingham Palace announced Saturday that the queen's state funeral will take place Sep. 19 at Westminster Abbey in London.
Following the ceremony, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, reunited at Windsor Castle in the afternoon, appearing to put aside their rift to pay tribute to their late grandmother.