Charles III officially announced as king at royal ceremony

King Charles III was officially announced as Britain’s monarch Saturday, in a pomp-filled ceremony steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism — and, for the first time, broadcast live. (AP)

Charles automatically became king when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Thursday, but the accession ceremony is a key constitutional and ceremonial step in introducing the new monarch to the country. (AP)

Former British Prime Ministers Theresa May, John Major, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, David Cameron and Boris Johnson, and Baroness Scotland arrive for the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace (Reuters)

The king joined them to make a personal declaration, vowing to follow his mother’s “inspiring example” as he took on the duties of monarch. “I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty which have now passed to me,” he said. (AP)

Speaking of his personal grief, he said: “I know how deeply you and the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathise with me in this irreparable loss we have all suffered." (AP)

The new king formally approved a series of orders — including one declaring the day of his mother's funeral a public holiday. The date of the state funeral has not been announced, but it is expected to be around Sept 19. (Reuters)

This is the first time the accession ceremony has been held since 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne. (Reuters)

Charles was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, and his eldest son Prince William. (AP)

William is now heir to the throne and known by the title Charles long held, Prince of Wales. (AP)

The ceremony ended with a royal official publicly proclaiming King Charles III the monarch from a balcony at the palace — a relic of centuries past, when this would have been the first official confirmation the public had of their new sovereign. (AP)

David White, the Garter King of Arms, made the proclamation flanked by trumpeters in gold-trimmed robes before leading cheers — “hip, hip, hooray!” — for the new king. (Reuters)