King Charles III’s historic Accession Council will take place on Saturday at 10am in St. James’s Palace, according to information released by Buckingham Palace.
On Thursday afternoon, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral in the company of some of her loved ones.
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King Charles made the historic choice to broadcast the Accession Council for the first time in history just one day after she passed away. The ceremony will feature the formal proclamation of the new ruler as monarch, as well as Charles’ declaration and oath.
According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, His Majesty the King will be proclaimed at the Accession Council tomorrow morning, September 10, at 10:00 a.m. in the State Apartments of St. James’s Palace in London.
“There are two sections to the Accession Council, which is attended by Privy Councillors. Without the King present, the Privy Council will formally approve a number of consequential Orders in Part I, including the arrangements for the Proclamation.
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The holding of His Majesty’s first Privy Council by the King is described in Part II. The King will read aloud and sign an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland, make his Declaration, and approve Orders in Council that help maintain the status quo of government.
“The Principal Proclamation, which will be read at 11:00 a.m. from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St. James’s Palace, will come after the Accession Council. The Earl Marshal, other Officers of Arms, and the Serjeants at Arms will be present as the Garter King of Arms reads the Proclamation. The Proclamation is being read aloud for the first time in public.
Traditionally, the formal proclamation of a new monarch is overseen at the Accession Council by the entire Privy Council. But since there are now more than 700 privy counsellors, most of whom are former or current politicians and lifetime members, restrictions have been put in place.
There will be a controversy over the lack of consultation and the loss of the important duty because only 200 people will be called, and those who were left behind will be asked to vote in an annual election for the few remaining seats. The constitutional process is not impacted by this.
Before Parliament convenes, the Accession Council must convene, and after a sovereign’s demise, Parliament must convene as soon as is reasonably possible. The Lord President of the Council, who has ministerial responsibility for the Privy Council Office, preside over the two sections of the Accession Council.
