Did you miss last weekend's #Coronation?

 

[VIDEO] Yeah I know this is America and we don't care about those royals we broke away from them over two centuries ago. Either way this is a fascinating look at how the British does things.

As you know Charles' mother the Queen Elizabeth II passed away last September and by right the throne of the United Kingdom fell to Charles III who was the Prince of Wales. His coronation as King took place on May 6, 2023 some eight months after his own ascension to the throne.

The snippets I have seen is almost part governmental and part religious services. Charles III is not only the head of the British state, he's also head of the state churches of England ( that is the Church of England and the Church of Scotland). He has both a temporal and a governmental or secular role in the United Kingdom.

As you see his Queen Camilla was also crowned, however, she's only the Queen Consort as she is the wife of King Charles III. 

Well, anyone have any thoughts?

Prince of Wales

 Well I never went over the succession and the titles thereof to the British throne.

Allow me to start with the departed Queen Elizabeth whose death set in place the accession of King Charles III to the throne. Charles was the heir apparent being the Queen's oldest son.

As heir to the throne Charles also had titles including Duke of Rothesay, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Carrick. On July 26, 1958, the Queen created Prince Charles the Prince of Wales and with that creation he was also Earl of Chester.

Queen Elizabeth spent over 70 years on the throne when she passed and thus Prince Charles as heir to the throne spent well over 70 years as heir apparent. He is also the oldest person to finally take the throne at 73.

As I mentioned in another post, King Charles created his oldest son Prince William, Prince of Wales since now he is the heir apparent to the UK throne. And bear in mind that we can expect an investiture with William in the future. Charles had his investiture over a decade after he was created Prince of Wales on July 1, 1969. 

You can see footage of Charles' investiture via British Pathé. [VIDEO]

Sky News: King Charles' accession ceremony

 

[VIDEO] This happened Saturday, yesterday. Two days after Queen Elizabeth's death, an accession council meets at St. James Palace in London to officially proclaim Charles King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In his speech he does refer to himself as head of state and head of nation which is his role, Charles will reign but effectively doesn't rule. 

His gov't headed by the Prime Minister governs in the name of the King. The King appoints the leader of the party that won the most seats in the House of Commons to be the Prime Minister.

You will also notice that the King signs with his first name - or the name we have known him as - and the initial R. You will see this after he takes an oath with the church of Scotland. R represents rex which is Latin for King. This is how he will sign state documents.

It's interesting to see the other previous living British Prime Ministers who are in attendance for the accession council. I was even surprised to see John Major who was the first British Prime Minister I remember when following world news or better yet when C-Span would air Prime Minister's Questions.

And of course the British understand protocol, pomp, and ceremony. You will hear trumpets along with some royal guards at at Friar's Court Balcony at St. James Palace and the reading to the public of the proclamation of King's accession to the throne by Garter King of Arms, David White.

It's cool to see the seemingly once in a lifetime transition between monarchs.

BTW, forgot to note you will see Camilla, Queen Consort and the newly created - in that address I shared with you Friday from the King - William, Prince of Wales. They also sign the document re-affirming the Scottish oath that the King signed showing visible irritation at an inkwell as he signs both documents.

BBC: King Charles makes first address to the UK as sovereign

 

[VIDEO] If you don't understand monarch, the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The reigning king or queen is the monarch. Also sovereign could be used interchangeably with the term monarch as you see in the title above.

So King Charles III makes his address to his nation as sovereign the day after his mother Queen Elizabeth II dies. Again footage from the BBC, the state broadcast company of the UK.

BBC News: King Charles meets crowds outside Buckingham Palace

 

[VIDEO] Well the former Prince of Wales now His Majesty the King Charles III meets with his subjects outside of the home of the British Monarchy in London. Yesterday his mother Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at age 96. We're witnessing the end of an era and the beginning of a new one with the ascension of a new monarch in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

BBC announces the death of Queen Elizabeth II

 

[VIDEO] Wanted to share this piece of history. How this was announced on the state TV network for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Perhaps we can see how other Commonwealth Realms that count the reigning British Monarch as their head of state announced the death of Queen Elizabeth. However, we'll just look at the mother country of Great Britain.

I can only imagine how it was in 1952 when King George VI, the Queen's Father was announced on the emerging  communication method of TV. And then all the news reports of her own ascension to the British throne.

British Queen Elizabeth II dies

 I didn't really plan to post here today, however, since we do look at things from a history standpoint here we talk about the late Queen of England.

Well in fact Elizabeth was the Queen of many realms and former parts of the British Empire such as Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Tip of the iceberg of course however she was the figurehead sovereign of many territories around the globe.

And now that passes on to her son, the Prince of Wales who it seems will now be known as King Charles III. I knew someone who predicted that Charles would likely pass away before he gets the throne. Of course that prediction was made two decades ago and now we see King Charles finally has ascended the throne at 73 years of age.

The Queen was 96 years of age when she passed away and I woke up to news that she was under medical supervision. And then I saw reports of her family coming to her estate in Scotland wanting to be with her in the final hours of her life as it turned out. When I saw those reports I had a sinking feeling, although she usually bounces back. It wasn't that long ago that she was diagnosed with coronavirus.

So anyway the 2nd Elizabethan era has come to a close and now we're starting the reign of Charles. And consider that she reigned a long time other British monarchs who reigned as long includes King George III - and if you remember the United States of America broke away from the British Empire under his reign - and a woman named Queen Victoria. The Queen reigned for 70 years having celebrated her diamond jubilee this year!

I do find this British monarchy fascinating, many Americans do as well. 

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022