Accession Proclamation

The text of the proclamation for the United Kingdom was drawn up by the Accession Council, which met in St James's Palace on 10 September at 1000 hours. The text of the Accession Proclamation has been published here, and can be downloaded as a PDF.

The Principal Proclamation was made from the balcony in Friary Court at St James’s Palace, London, by Garter King of Arms, David White, accompanied by the other Officers of Arms (the heralds), on 10 September, at 1100 hours. It was marked by the firing of two Gun Salutes, viz. a Royal Salute of 41 Guns by King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park and a Royal Salute of 62 Guns by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London.

The City Proclamation was then made at 1200 hours from the steps of the Royal Exchange, City of London, by Clarenceux King of Arms, Timothy Duke; he processed from the Mansion House accompanied by the other heralds (save Garter), the Lord Mayor and other City office-holders. State Trumpeters were present, four posted with the party at the Royal Exchange and four on the Mansion House balcony to echo their calls.

The text of the Proclamation has now been published. It has been read out in suitable locations by High Sheriffs, Lord Mayors, Mayors and others in England and Wales. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has distributed the text to British missions overseas, to British overseas territories and dependencies, and the Commonwealth Realms. On September 11 the Proclamation was read in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, as follows:

Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, Robert Noel, made the Northern Ireland Proclamation on the terrace in front of the State Entrance of Hillsborough Castle in the presence of representatives of the Northern Ireland civil and military establishments.

The Lord Lieutenant for South Glamorgan, Morfudd Meredith, and Wales Herald, Thomas Lloyd OBE DL, made the Proclamation for Wales in Welsh and English, at 1200 hours. They stood on a dais in the grounds of Cardiff Castle in the presence of representatives of the civil and military establishments in Wales.

Lord Lyon King of Arms, Joseph Morrow CBE DL, made the first Proclamation in Scotland at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, in the company of the other Scottish heralds and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders, and other office-holders of the City of Edinburgh. This reading of the Proclamation is said to be to the people of Scotland. The party then processed to Edinburgh Castle where the Proclamation was made a second time on the Castle Drawbridge. This reading of the Proclamation is said to be to the people of Edinburgh. State Trumpeters will be present at both readings.