Across the United Kingdom, proclamations of King Charles III are taking place following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The new Monarch was formally proclaimed King during a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London on September 10th 2022.
Regional proclamations have the national event in cities, towns and villages, often organised by local authorities. Many took place on September 11th 2022 with others occurring on September 12th 2022.
The tradition of holding local proclamations goes back centuries – in times past, it was often the first occasion when people would hear about the accession of a new monarch.
In Wales, Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Morfuud Meredith read the proclamation of the King in Welsh while Wales Herald Thomas Lloyd OBE read it in English. In Crown Dependencies, the Isle of Man, Lieutenant Governor-General Sir John Lorimer proclaimed Charles III during a ceremony at Government House. A similar proclamation took place at the Government House in the Cayman Islands.
At Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, a proclamation was read by the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms Robert Noel in front of an audience of both dignitaries, and members of the public. The event, like some of the other proclamations seen across the nation featured military in full ceremonial dress, a 21-gun salute, and a bugler. Following the formal regional proclamation, the document was read by sheriffs or lord lieutenants in several council areas.
While most proclamations have been going smoothly, there have been a few incidents. In Oxford, a man was arrested on suspicion of public order offence after he’s said to voice opposition to the proclamation of the new King. In Scotland, a 22-year-old female protester advocating the abolition of the monarchy was arrested outside St Giles’ Cathedral for a breach of peace offence.
