Order of Council - Approving Accession Proclamation of King Charles III [2022-09-10]

Order of Council - Approving Accession Proclamation of King Charles III [2022-09-10]

Accession

Ceremonial

Privy Council

Order of Council approving the Accession Proclamation of King Charles III.

Lords of the Privy Council

2022-09-10

Jason Loch

The Lords of the Council on being acquainted by the Lord President of the Council with the demise of Her Most Gracious Majesty of Blessed and Glorious Memory, prepared the draft of a Proclamation for proclaiming His Most Gracious Majesty King Charles the Third which was signed by the Lord Spiritual and Temporal, Members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty’s Privy Council and representatives of the Realms and Territories, Aldermen and Citizens of London and others as were present.

The Proclamation was ordered to be printed and published in Special Supplements in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.

A PROCLAMATION

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second of Blessed and Glorious Memory, by whose Decease the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George: We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm and Members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty's Privy Council and representatives of the Realms and Territories, Aldermen and Citizens of London, and others, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim that The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the Death of our late Sovereign of Happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom we do acknowledge all Faith and Obedience with humble Affection; beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign to bless His Majesty with long and happy Years to reign over us.

Given at St. James's Palace this tenth day of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-two.

GOD SAVE THE KING


[Names of Signatories]

At the top is St. Edward's Crown surrounded by heraldic plants.

Printed inTimes New Roman.

The Proclamation differs from Queen Elizabeth II's Proclamation in a number of respects:

• The King is not described as "the High and Mighty Prince."
• MPs are mentioned alongside the Lords Spiritual and Temporal.
• "Being here assisted with these of His late Majesty's Privy Council" has been replaced with "together with other members of Her late Majesty's Privy Council".
• "Representatives of other members of the Commonwealth" has become "representatives of the Realms and Territories".
• There is no mention of "other Principal Gentlemen of Quality".
• There is no mention of the Lord Mayor of London, though the Aldermen and Citizens are still included.
• The list of participants now concludes with "and others".
• The King is described as "our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord" (this marks a return to form after this language was dropped from Queen Elizabeth II's Accession Proclamation). 
• "We do acknowledge all Faith and Obedience with humble Affection" in place of "Her lieges do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience with hearty and humble Affection". The use of "we" in place of "His lieges" was seen in earlier proclamations that referred to the King as "our...Liege Lord". 
• "Bless His Majesty" instead of "bless the Royal Prince Charles the Third."