Senior leaders across Leicester and Leicestershire came together in a ceremony yesterday to mark the beginning of the new King Charles III’s reign.
On Sunday, September 11 at 1pm, in Leicester, the High Sheriff stood on the steps of the Town Hall with the Lord-Lieutenant, Lord Mayor of Leicester, and Chairman of the County Council to read the proclamation of King Charles III.
Flags which had flown at half-mast since The Queen’s death were raised briefly to their full height to mark the start of His Majesty’s reign.
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Michael Kapur OBE, said: “The reading of the proclamation is a significant moment following The Queen’s death.
“We are all grieving The Queen and the next few days will be a period of collective mourning.”
The High Sheriff, Mehmooda Duke MBE, said: “The proclamation of the new sovereign is a very old tradition which can be traced back over many centuries.
“In an age where modern technology will convey news around the globe in an instant, the proclamation is not the means by which people will learn that they have a new Monarch. It will be, however, one of the first occasions when communities have the opportunity to come together and reflect on a moment in our nation’s history when the reign of our longest-serving Monarch ended and our new King succeeded.”
Civic leaders were joined by faith leaders, representatives of the emergency services, armed forces cadets, and members of the public.
Other local readings followed around the county, at which the Lord-Lieutenant was represented by his deputies.
Speaking before the Accession Council on Saturday, the King said his mother’s death had been an “irreparable loss”.
The King himself was not present for the first part of the meeting when he was proclaimed monarch by the Accession Council, made up of senior politicians, judges, and officials.
Clerk of the Privy Council Richard Tilbrook proclaimed Charles “King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith”, before declaring “God Save the King”.
The packed room, including all of the six living former British prime ministers, repeated the phrase.
The proclamation was then read out on a balcony above Friary Court in St James’s Palace.
