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- King Charles III was formally proclaimed monarch during an Accession Council ceremony televised for the first time today
- The ceremony was held at the State Apartments of St James’s Palace
- The new monarch joined after he was proclaimed at 10am to hold his first Privy Council meeting
- He has approved a bank holiday on the day of the Queen's funeral which is to be confirmed
Thank you for reading our live blog today.
More events will be taking place in and around Southampton tomorrow including the proclamation of King Charles III.
It was an immense privilege to join others in attending a wreath laying ceremony in Eastleigh alongside the @eastleighmayor to remember our late HM Queen Elizabeth II and to sign the condolence book on behalf of the people of Eastleigh. God save The King. pic.twitter.com/Imcsa7VjXF
— Paul Holmes MP (@pauljholmes) September 10, 2022
Bitterne Park councillor, David Fuller has laid a wreath for the Queen in Southampton.
It was an honour to lay a wreath in memory of Her Majesty at the Civic Centre. We are only beginning to come to terms with our loss & the days ahead will be as difficult as the last. As a people, we are coming together in our grief, we must be here for each other in this sad time pic.twitter.com/Z9nUI6LYBo
— David Fuller (@D_J_Fuller) September 9, 2022
Eastleigh pays its respects
#Eastleigh’s wreath-laying ceremony took place at midday today. pic.twitter.com/N3AYR6R0mO
— Eastleigh Borough Council (@EastleighBC) September 10, 2022
Book of condolence opened in Eastleigh for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to Her Majesty.
A book of condolence for everyone in Eastleigh has opened at The Point in Eastleigh. I’ll join many constituents later in paying our respects and sending our sincerest thanks for a great reign. pic.twitter.com/n2th6vxaMb
— Paul Holmes MP (@pauljholmes) September 9, 2022
Alan Whitehead MP has today paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen saying she is "irreplacable".
Mr Whitehead, who represents Southampton Test told the Echo: "Literally my first memory was of the party that was held for the coronation of the Queen.
"She has been with me for all my conscious life, and I know that that life has seen changes from the aftermath of the devastating world war, right through to the rebuilding and where we are now.
"The Queen was a steadfast and unchanging symbol of national unity throughout that long period, and she performed that role with great dignity, wisdom and, as many people have referenced, humour.
"We send our condolences to her family. She was a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother. They must be so proud of her achievements in her lifetime."
Pay your tributes to the Queen
We have opened a book of condolence to mark down in history Southampton's mourning for the Queen.
Anyone in the city and surrounding area is welcome to contribute - and the entries will be published by the Echo.
You can write in the book here.
Here are some lovely pictures of people marking the Queen's passing
These photos were taken at a wreath laying service outside the Civic Centre in Southampton on Friday.
Freemasons pay their respects
The United Grand Lodge of England - the governing body of the Freemasons - have released a statement in light of the Queen's passing.
It reads: "It was with the greatest sadness that the United Grand Lodge of England learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our longest serving British Sovereign.
"Queen Elizabeth’s father, His late Majesty King George VI and her consort, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, were both Freemasons.
"Her cousin, HRH The Duke of Kent, has been Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England since 1967, and will be sending a message of condolence on behalf of all English Freemasons to His Majesty The King.
"Another of her cousins, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, has been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales since 1982, and an announcement is being made from Mark Masons’ Hall.
"God Save The King."
Charles is King
Charles III has now been proclaimed King and Head of the Commonwealth after a history Accession ceremony.
The King vowed to follow his mother's "inspiring example" during his declaration.
The King has approved an order that the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a bank holiday.
The orders of the Accession Council
Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth, read out the following eight orders of the council:
"One, ordering the proclamation to be printed and published in specialist supplements in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.
"Two - directing the Lord Chancellor to affix the great seal to the proclamation proclaiming His Majesty, King Charles III.
"Three - directing the Kings, Heralds and pursuivants of arms to attend at the court of St James to proclaim His Majesty King Charles III.
"Four - directing the Lord Mayor the court of alderman and commons of London to attend at the Royal Exchange to proclaim His Majesty King Charles III."
"Five - directing His Majesty's Secretary of State for Defence to give directions for the firing of guns at Hyde Park as soon as His Majesty is proclaimed.
"Six - directing the constable of His Majesty's Tower of London to give directions for the firing of guns at the Tower of London as soon as His Majesty is proclaimed.
"Seven - directing His Majesty's Secretary of State for Scotland to cause the proclamation for proclaiming His Majesty King Charles III to be published in Scotland.
"Eight - directing the clerk of the Council to issue circular letters for causing His Majesty King Charles III to be proclaimed."
King Charles III is now signing two copies to confirm the oath has been taken.
He has been followed by his son Prince William and wife Camilla in signing, as witnesses.
"My mother gave an example of lifelong love"
King Charles is now addressing the audience and starts by paying tribute to the Queen.
"I know how deeply you, the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathise with me in the irreparable loss we all suffered.
"It is the greatest consolation to me to know of the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and brothers, and that such overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family."
King Charles III
The King has arrived in the throne room at St James's Palace.
An array of political figures can be see attending the event, including former PM's Boris Johnson, Theresa May, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
Muslim community extends condolences
In a statment, members of the Hampshire Muslim community said: "We convey our sincere condolences and sympathy to the Royal family and the Nation mourning the death of her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
"At this sad time for our country our thoughts are with the Royal family.
"Our prayers are with all those grieving this loss."
Reading of the proclamation in Hampshire
The proclamation of his Kingship will take place in Southampton, Eastleigh, Fareham and Gosport on Sunday.
Southampton
The proclamation will take place on the Civic Centre steps on Sunday, September 11 at 2pm.
Lord Mayor Jacqui Rayment will conduct the reading.
Eastleigh
The time for the Eastleigh Borough Council proclamation currently stands as around 2pm on Sunday.
It will be held at Leigh Road Recreation Ground in Eastleigh.
Fareham
The Mayor of Fareham will be reading the proclamation at the Performance Podium in West Street, Fareham on Sunday at 2pm.
Suggested dress code is black or dark clothing.
Gosport
Gosport will formally mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and accession of King Charles III with a proclamation ceremony at 2pm on Sunday.
It will take place in front of the Town Hall and coincide with similar ceremonies in towns and cities across the country following the national proclamation at St James's Palace the previous day.
King Charles III
King Charles III has been formally announced as the nation's new sovereign, with the proclamation still to come later in the ceremony.
The Prince of Wales was the first to sign the proclamation, followed by Queen Consort, Camilla.
The first to sign the proclamation is the new Prince of Wales, Prince William, who is the heir to the throne.
He is followed by Camilla who is now Queen Consort.
Penny Mordaunt is next, followed by Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The Archbishop of Canterbury also signs along with the Archbishop of York.
The Accession Council is underway
Portsmouth MP Penny Mordaunt, recently appointed Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, starts the proclamation ceremony.
Prince William and he Queen Consort, Camilla, are both in attendance as Privy Counsellors.
What did King Charles say in his address to the nation?
Today's historic event comes after the King addressed the nation last night.
He made a moving tribute to his "darling mama" who died at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon.
READ MORE: Read King Charles' heartbreaking tribute to Queen and message to the nation
The King ended his address by saying: “To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you.
"Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May ‘flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’.”
What happens today?
Charles automatically became King following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth on Thursday.
The Accession Council, attended by Privy Councillors, will confirm his role this morning.
- 10am
Charles is proclaimed King at the Accession Council in St James's Palace in London. He will be accompanied by Camilla, his wife, and the heir to the throne, William.
- 11am
The proclamation will read from the balcony of the palace. This will be followed by gun salutes in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.
- This afternoon
Senior MPs will swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles III in the Houses of Parliament.
Good morning.
We will be bringing you live updates as King Charles III is officially proclaimed monarch.
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