Step by step, with the greatest solemnity and respect to the millimeter of protocol and tradition, Charles III installed himself as Head of State.
Friday evening, for the first time in 70 years, the British anthem “God save the King” (May God save the king) was sung in its male version at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, at the end of a religious service in honor of Elizabeth II. It replaces “God save the Queen”, the anthem since the accession to the throne of the late sovereign in 1952.
Earlier, from Buckingham Palace, Charles III delivered his first televised speech as sovereign, a recorded address in which he paid moving tribute to Elizabeth II, his “dear mother”, who died aged 96. 70 years and 7 months of reign. He called Elizabeth II “an inspiration and an example” for him and his family.
He has promised to serve the British all his life, as his mother Elizabeth II did on her 21st birthday. “As the Queen had done with unwavering devotion, I too solemnly pledge myself now, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles which are at the heart of our nation,” a- he declared, in a sober and confident tone.
On Saturday morning, the Accession Council, a group of dignitaries, will meet at St. James’s Palace in London and proclaim that Charles has become king. The proclamation will be read on the balcony of Saint James’s Palace, then relayed by the King-at-Arms of the Order of the Garter and half a dozen heralds in horse-drawn carriages who will also read it in Trafalgar Square, then at the Royal Exchange.
Then Parliament will take a pledge of allegiance and express its condolences. In the afternoon, the new king will receive the Prime Minister and the main ministers.
Charles III accedes to the throne in a difficult period, the United Kingdom facing the worst economic crisis in 40 years, while four Prime Ministers have succeeded in six years.
At 73, he is the oldest British monarch at the start of his reign.
Charles III is infinitely less popular than his mother, who knew how to maintain the prestige of the monarchy, giving no interviews and keeping her opinions to herself.
But the new king received a standing ovation when he arrived in Buckingham on Friday afternoon, on his return from Scotland. Accompanied by his wife Camille, who became queen consort, he shook hands with dozens of people pressed against barriers in front of the Palace.
Thousands of people have flocked since the announcement of the disappearance of Elizabeth II to lay bouquets of flowers and words of tribute.
“All our condolences”, “God bless you”, “I wish you the best”, threw the crowd to him.
– Books of condolences –
Elizabeth II died Thursday “peacefully” in her castle of Balmoral in Scotland, where were then her son Charles and her daughter Anne. His other two sons Andrew and Edwards, and Prince William, now heir to the Crown, and then Prince Harry alone, arrived after the death.
The King has made it known that the royal mourning – which involves family, staff and representatives of the Royal Household – will last until seven days after the Queen’s funeral, the date of which has not been confirmed.
The royal residences will remain closed until after the funeral and the flags there will be at half mast.
National mourning, decreed by the government, must last him until the day of the funeral. The Queen will be buried privately in the Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Thousands of Britons, some moved to tears, came to lay flowers in front of Buckingham Palace, Windsor and Balmoral in the north of Scotland.
“I wanted to be here today… It’s very powerful to come together here with so many other people, to show how much we respect her. She’s done so much for this country, it won’t be the same without her”, abounds David Renn, 42, who came by bike from London to Windsor.
The portrait of Elizabeth II adorns London bus stops, replacing advertisements, and condolence books have been opened in some churches, as well as online at the royal family’s official website.