It has been announced that the day of the Queen’s state funeral will be a bank holiday.
The date of the funeral has not yet been announced, but is likely to take place on Monday, September 19.
The party was formally approved by King Charles III at his first meeting with the Privy Council at St James’s Palace in London.
Acting President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt, read two draft proclamations designating the day as a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Charles responded with the word “Passed” before signing the proclamations.
The procedure for the events following the death of the monarch is established in a strict set of protocols called Operation London Bridge.
According to this plan, the Queen’s coffin will be carried in procession to Westminster Abbey in a gun carriage, drawn not by horses but by sailors, with ropes.
Flags will fly at half-mast during the mourning period
(son PA)
Senior members of the royal family will follow on foot, as they did at the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royalty and key figures in public life will be invited to gather at the abbey, which can hold a congregation of 2,000. The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has confirmed that he will attend.
The service will be televised and a two-minute national silence is expected to be observed.
After the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be taken to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for a televised service.
The public holiday was announced moments after Charles was officially proclaimed king at the accession council ceremony.
After the proclamation in Charles’ absence in the palace picture gallery, around 200 members of the privy council gathered in the throne room for their first meeting with the new monarch.
In a statement to the council, Charles vowed to follow the “inspiring example” of Elizabeth II in serving the nation “for the rest of my life.”
Standing before the royal throne in the palace’s Throne Room, Charles spoke of the “irreparable loss” to himself, his family, the UK, the Commonwealth and the world represented by the death of his mother
There will be a public holiday for the Queen’s funeral
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“It is the greatest comfort to me to know the sympathy expressed by so many to me, my sister and my brothers,” he said.
In recognition of the king’s new reign, official flags were flown at full-mast for Proclamation Day before being returned to half-mast until the end of the royal mourning period.
Charles’ speech was his second as monarch, following a televised address to the nation on Friday, in which he named his eldest son William Prince of Wales and sent a message of “love” to his youngest son Harry and his wife Meghan.
In tribute to his late mother, he said at the time: “I speak to you today with a feeling of deep sorrow. Throughout her life, Her Majesty the Queen, my beloved Mother, was an inspiration and an example to me and to my entire family, and we owe her the sincerest debt that any family can owe to her mother; for his love, affection, guidance, understanding and example”.
It ended with a heartfelt tribute to the Queen, bringing tears to the eyes of many who watched.
“To my dear mother, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late father, I simply want to say this: Thank you,” he said.
“Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and the family of nations you have served so diligently over the years.”
In today’s speech, he celebrated Elizabeth’s example of “lifelong love and selfless service”, saying he was “deeply aware of this great heritage and the heavy duties and responsibilities of sovereignty which have now happened to me.”
He added: “In assuming these responsibilities, I will endeavor to follow the inspiring example set before me in maintaining constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands and in the kingdoms and Commonwealth territories around the world. world.”
Charles also formally renounced the financial income of the Crown estate, in exchange for the sovereign grant of the government to support him in his duties.