wd it was the first time it was televised and people would go to go to saint james palace. >> current prime minister. >> there's the current prime minister. >> so it comes in two parts. so the council will declare the king. he won't be allowed in for that. he's declared king. so this is prince william -- prince of wales, we have to call him now. just wait for them to start speaking. but just to clarify, people know buckingham palace. let's listen in. >> most gracious majesty, queen elizabeth ii has passed away. on thursday, the 8th of september, 2022.

i propose that when certain necessary business has been transacted, a deputation consisting of her majesty, his royal highness, the archbishop of kant bury, the lord chancellor, the archbishop of york, the prime minister, the clark of the council and myself shall wait on the king and inform him, the council is assembled. i now call on the clark of the council to read aloud the text of the proclamation. >> where as it is pleased all mighty god to call to his mercy, our laid sovereign lady, queen

elizabeth ii a blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the crown of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland is solely and rightfully come to the prince charles phillip arthur george. we members of the house of commons together with other members of her late majesty's council and representatives of the realms and territories citizens of london and others do now hereby with one voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that the prince charles philip arthur george is now by the death of our late sovereign of happy memory become our only lawful and rightful liege lord, charles iii. by the grace of god of the united kingdom of great britain

and northern ireland and of his other realms and territories, king, head of the commonwealth, defender of the faith, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience, with humble affection, beseeching god by whom kings and queens do rein, to bless his majesty with long and happy years to rein over is. god save the king. >> god save the king. >> i now invite those on the platform to sign the proclamation .

>> so the signing part is the platform party, members of the royal family, the privy counselors the archbishop, the prime minister. what is interesting is you have members of the royal family,

which is of course the queen consort, queen camilla and prince of wales, the duke -- >> we're discussing that. >> yeah. so he was bestowed that during the address last night. d prince william is prince of wales and kate is princess of wales. archbishop of kantbury, the church of england. you'll see this process. the king automatically became king when the queen died, but this is the formal proclamation. after this, the king will be invited in. just to clarify, we all know buckingham palace, don't we? this is saint james, the throne at saint james is the senior throne because the king is declared as he sits in that

throne, we'll see that in a moment. >> the court of saint james, what we're looking at here, that is actually the court that ambassadors get accredited to. the american ambassador in london is not the american ambassador to buckingham palace. >> or the uk. >> or the uk. he is the american ambassador to the court of saint james. so this is significant. >> this is really changing of the guard, so to speak. it's like the changing of government in the united states, correct, richard? >> there's an entire panel of officials and royal servants and royal household behind me in buckingham palace who serve the queen. that will now shift. the access of power will now shift to clarencehouse and court of saint james over there where charles has his own. it's very similar to a change in administration in a sense that there are -- there is a changing

of the guard for all those who are around the monarchy of elizabeth, to all those around -- >> in the london, edinburgh. two, directing the lord chancellor to effect the great seal to the proclamation proclaiming his majesty, king charles iii. three, directing the king's, harolds to attend at the court of saint 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 defense to give directions for the firing of guns at hyde park as soon as his imagine industry 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 imagine industry, king charles iii, to be published in scotland. eight, directing the clark of the council to issue circular letters for causing his majesty, king charles iii to be proclaimed are hereby approved and that concludes the business for this part of the council.

i now invite the dedeputation party to accompany me to wait on the king in the council chamber. >> so that's the end of part i. we're now going to part ii which is effectively -- >> she's essentially laying out what's going to happen and what has happened now? >> she completed that part of the process. part ii is going to the council chamber, the king's first privy council meeting. he'll be invited in. one of the first things he has to do, essential really, declare an oath to the church of scotland to clarify why they're doing that. the church of the scotland and the state are separated in scotland, not the case in england and wales. so he has to declare his oath to the judge of scotland promising to keep independent. so that would be the first thing you see. >> if you are just tuning in

now, king charles iii officially being proclaimed king of the united kingdom, but the accession council. they completed the first part of the ceremony. looking at all the former prime ministers there in the front row, again, this is a highly thought-out process. >> it's tempting to look at it as being somewhat old fashion and tradition for tradition sake -- >> goes back 1,000 years. >> as max says, there's lots of knots that need to be tied and boxes that need to be ticked to make the constitution work. for instance, the business of the church of scotland versus his role as king of scotland. >> you were saying this is a governmental, right? it's political. it's governmental but it's also religious as well. >> much so. much so. because the oath by the grace of god that he's going to say, charles. so help me god, absolutely.

>> so it's like confirmation from government and church that this is our king. and we have never been able to see this. i keep going on about it. but the point is that this is meant to be a private moment, but this shows how the times have moved on. what you're going to see later on the guard of king of arms go outside and declare that the king is king. in the past, that's where we would have found out and seen all the flags rise to full staff momen momentarily. they will be reduced to half-staffed to show he is king. >> that's a tradition and old fashion to go out i hereby declare -- >> it's kind of unnecessary. we're watching it on tv. i'm going to disagree. we need these traditions. >> last time this happened was 70 years ago, right? >> no, this didn't happen. we didn't have tv cameras, the accession council. we had tv cameras in the

coronation. this is the last moment we have been allowed into. >> that will be an interesting question you and i will discuss no doubt in a year or so's time as to whether charles anointing of oils core nation to be shown. the queen specifically said she would not allow the anointing of oils. >> that was a personal appointment between her and god. >> that's for another day. today you're looking at the function of britain's constitutional monarchy in action. the elected, the privy counselors, giving their approval and authorization for charles to be king. and he then comes in the second part of this important ceremony, tradition -- >> taking place at the state apartments at saint james palace. max mentioned moments ago, principle.

that will happen from the balcony at saint james palace at any moment. so there are a lot of different events that take place today. but also have an audience, which means meetings. he'll be meeting -- >> lots of meetings today. due to be meeting the cabinet as well. wait to see whether or not that happens. so many formalities. certainly boxes that need to be ticked for him to just carry on with this job as king, even though we keep reiterating he became king as the queen died. >> interesting what would happen if they didn't do all this. i can tell you probably somebody would challenge in the courts. if they did not go through -- >> you think so? >> yeah. there would be questions as to his legitimacy. they have to do this. and they've been doing it i think queen victoria is the first that had this dual part accessions councils if you look back. they've been doing it from victoria's time onwards. >> the big question is where is

the king? >> we're about to see him move into -- he'll be in the other room. we'll see him on the throne. >> i didn't see him leave buckingham palace. >> that's not the standard, though, is it? >> i think it is. >> no. >> so saint james is a stunning place. they did have offices there. it's a public space. you can rent it, don, if you want to have an event. >> i've been entering everyday through saint james hall. and this morning i walked by and said, i'm sorry, sir, you can't go this way so i had to find my way around here. >> it's not a residence anymore. it's attached to clarence house. they use for public functions. look at this throne. i want to talk about his throne for a moment. this is the senior throne. this is the most important throne, not the throne at buckingham palace, not the throne in the palace of westminster, this is the most

important throne. they say you cannot take a picture of that throne. i might have a picture of the throne. but this is the first time we're seeing it officially really in video, right? >> live pictures of the throne now. >> not normally allowed to film it. but within this moment because this is when it comes into its own. it was 70 years ago, more than 70 years ago that it was last used for queen elizabeth. >> you look at the pictures of the accession council, they're dated and quaint in the clothes that people were wearing and women were all wearing hats and men were wearing hats and things. but i think it's important to point out, don, there you have it. that's the oath that he's going to say and going to sign in front, a copy of which -- >> we have not gotten word that he has left. we haven't gotten word. >> i can't imagine he will make all the former prime ministers wait. >> this isn't due to happen until 11:00. >> declaration, guard of king of

arms is at 11, i think. >> i think king of arms is supposed to go to the balcony. >> at 11. we need toe see charles before. >> we shall see. this is all in close proximity to each other. he could walk to saint james palace. >> five minutes walk up the street if that on a good day. his house, of course, is next door to saint jams palace. saint james palace, bucking ham -- saint james, clarence, all the way down here to buckingham palace. >> it's been an interesting conversation before we went on the air and were talking what happens as we can relate to the united states and other republics, king charles now has his whole court, if you want to call it, and then what happens to queen elizabeth ii's court?

>> let me ask max that, if i may. >> yeah. >> how much of the court of saint james under elizabeth will remain once charles -- there's always been tensions between the buckingham palace and saint james palace. >> the queen's titles would automatically be consumed if i can call it that. but going back to the throne, when she died, and that automatically goes to prince charles. then he has those responsibilities, king charles. but there are other titles which won't automatically go to him. we're expecting announcements on that soon. i'm not quite sure how that process works. he doesn't have the full compliment of what the queen's responsibilities until he has all the titles. >> right. but how many people -- >> this is a privy council. this is whoever the government defines. >> but people who are in her court, right, her staff, her people -- >> well, the court traditionally is hangers on, anyone they particularly like. and the prime minister is the top adviser to the government.

>> how about the household, in terms of the household, how much of the queen's existing household will return? >> as i understand it, and this is -- the whole of buckingham palace, effectively the queen's household, is now under king charles. he also has the whole of former office, that needs to be sorted out. everyone's contract working at buckingham palace, after six months they have to renew. that's built into the contract. so he can choose to keep whoever he likes. >> then of course the question of william, who is now prince of wales will be -- he already has his own group, his own household, if you like. but that household now takes on a much greater, elevated importance because as heir to the throne, he now has to start preparing himself and his household and his court for what happens when charles -- >> charles will enter the room. he will sign two documents

effectively regarding the taking of the oath. richard just outlined that a moment ago. he'll read out a oath. we're assuming that's the prince of wales and queen consort are privy counselors members of the royal family will witness and lord chancellor scotland. scotland keeps coming up because of this division of church of state. >> you're watching the official proclamation of king charles iii, proclamation in birmingham was signed by members of the privy council, including william, now the new prince of wales, and camilla, the queen consort and signed by the council members, lord president of the council and then prime minister liz truss and the archbishop of canterbury. gordon brown is there.

of course the new prime minister, liz truss, is there as well. theresa may was also in that group. >> one can only wonder what is going through boris johnson's mind. this happened a week earlier, he would be the one who would have had to do it. probably delayed -- i don't know. >> it could be relief. >> he's a massive monarchist. liz truss famously companied to end the monarchy and sack the queen. when i look at the prime ministers, i think to myself, never before in british history been so many living former prime ministers because there's been so many changing, which has been so unsettling for the british nation. so many new prime ministers. now we have a new king. and the nation is a bit lost combined with the fact that the economy is virtually collapsing, but richard can speak to that. >> i'll take it. i haven't seen sir john major as

a former prime minister, i'm wondering whether he's there. you don't have to attend. this is entirely voluntary. you don't have to be there. in fact, they actually reduced -- there's lord mandleson. there's actually about 7 or 800 privy counselors now. earlier this year they changed the rules as to who could attend and they basically have the most important, the royal privy counselors, the great officers of state, the former prime ministers, et cetera. then there was a ballot for the remaining places. i don't know whether -- >> prime minister liz truss as well as the former prime ministers, including boris johnson, theresa may, gordon brown, john major in attendance at the accession council ceremony. >> leader of the opposition party as well. >> the order of the garter and two of those are in the order of garter, tony blare, and john major. rumored to be a republican. his wife certainly is. took a while to get brought into

that club. but they are the two senior former prime ministers i argue. that's why they probably have more prominent position today. >> regardless of what you think, massive monarchist or not, this is history in the making. it's interesting to see these pictures and quite frankly all of these powerful, former leaders in one room. we'll see now if this is the king. >> here we go, king charles iii about to come in and give his oath to, you know, into this glimpse of the british establishment. and then that will be able to be declared to the nation. prime minister followed by the archbishop of canterbury. >> but it's interesting because usually i would think would there be -- >> there he is.

there's the new king of england, king of the uk. >> formal title is the king of great britain and northern ireland. >> yeah. >> part ii of the council. your majesty, to make your declaration. >> my lords, ladies and gentlemen, most sorrowful duty to announce to you the death of many beloved mother, the queen. i know how deeply you, the entire nation, and i think i may say the whole world sympathize with me in the irreparable loss we have 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 in our loss. to all of us as a family, kingdom and wider family of nations of which it is a part, my mother gave an example of lifelong love and of selfless service. my mother's rein was unequalled in its duration. its dedication and its devotion. even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life. i'm deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty which have now passed to me. in taking up these

responsibilities, i shall strive to follow the inspiring example i have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands and of the realms and territories throughout the world. in this purpose, i know that i should be upheld by the affection and loyalty of the peoples whose sovereign i have been called upon to be. and that in the discharge of these duties, i will be guided by the council of their elected parliaments. in all this, i am profoundly encouraged by the constant support of my beloved wife. i take this opportunity to confirm my willingness and

intention to continue the tradition of surrendering the hereditary revenues including the crown of state to my government for the benefit of all in return for the sovereign grant which supports my official duties as head of state and head of nation. and in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which i now dedicate what remains to me of my life, i pray for the guidance and help of all mighty god. >> i have with humble duty to crave your majesty's permission for the publication of your gracious speech. >> approved. >> concerning the security of the church of scotland. >> i understand that the law

requires that i should at my accession to the crown take and subscribe the oath relating to the security of the church of scotland. i am ready to do so at this first opportunity. i, charles iii, by the grace of god of the united king democrat of great britain and northern ireland and other realms and territories, king, defender of the faith, do faithfully promise and swear that i shall maintain and preserve the settlement of the true protestant religion as established by the laws made in scotland in prosecution of the claim of right and particularly by an act for securing the protestant religion and

presbyterian church government and by the acts passed in the parliament of both kingdoms for union of the two kingdoms, together with the government worship, discipline, rights and privileges of the church of scotland. so help me god. >> i now invite your majesty to subscribe both copies of the instrument confirming the oath has been taken . >> and there is the king signing, gentlemen, the

proclamation that makes him king now as we listen to the royal band. >> the band is heading up towards saint james, which is very close to us, i believe, for the formal proclamation to the public that will be made bethe garter king of arms, accompanied by the earl marshall. that's a very deep ceremonial moment, talk about pomp and pageantry. >> on cue we have the royal band behind us. >> this is his last formality as mon monarch. he has the approval of the church -- >> to sign both copies of the instrument . >> it is interesting to see william signing this.

of course, remember before william as a kid and now here he is, new prince of wales. stepping into his role and signing the proclamation from his father to become king which also in part makes him the new prince of wales. there is queen consulate camilla also signing the proclamation. >> as a privy counselor, as much as a member of the royal family, this is the crossover between government effectively and the monarchy with all the former prime ministers and the leader of the opposition looking o and effectively giving their approval of this moment. everyone in the room is invited to sign the proclamation. i don't know how they squeeze it is. >> i want to bring in elizabeth norton, the author of "england's queens" the biography. this is history in the making. and how this will be viewed in the years to come, elizabeth. >> absolutely. it is absolutely history. and of course it's been 70 years since this has happened before.

it's a defining moment. you know, it is the moment where although the king, charles, has been king since the moment of his mother's death, this is really effectively the rubber stamping. this is where he's proclaimed as king. so it's really significant moment. and we can look back at previous accession councils, a famous painting of queen victoria in a white dress sitting amongst her privy counselors records this moment nearly 200 years ago. it is a really important moment for the king. >> do we know, gentlemen, how people will sign this? w. well, there's not -- there's hundreds of people in the privy council. they all have an opportunity to sign it. you have the two householding coming together the prime minister's household on the right and you have the private

secretary to the king. >> when you're made a privy counselor, you remember members of parliament, described the honorable member of wherever. when you become the privy counselor, you become the right honorable. so there's a lot of right on records in a sense in that room. along with the leaders of the church and interestingly also in the room will be the high commissioners from the realms. these are the 14 countries that make -- where the king is head of state. there you will sign the proclamation as well because they have to recognize from those countries, from the governor generals the authority. >> interesting when it comes to australia and jamaica, the republican movements are so powerful right now, it will be interesting, they are giving their authority to the new king as well. let's see what the public makes of that.

that's a big challenge for the king going forward to retain the same sort of authority going forward as the queen had. >> the question why so much formality here. you said it would certainly be challenged if it didn't go through all the formalities. >> let's talk about the united states and the change of power that takes place from one administration to another. >> he's so aware of how profound this moment is. >> go on, sorry, richard. >> no. hang on. >> authorizing your majesty's declaration to be made public. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council for recording the oath relating to the security of the church of scotland to be transmitted to the court of session, to be recorded in the books of sedrent and lodged in the state papers of london and in the council register. >> approved. >> draft order in council

determining the form of proclamation for proclaiming your majesty in the realms and in the british overseas territories. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council authorizing the lord chancellor to make use of the great seal for sealing all things whatsoever that pass the great seal until another great seal be prepared and authorized. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council authorizing the lord privy seal if need be to make use of the existing privy seal until another privy seal is prepared and authorized. >> approved. >> drafts of three orders in council authorizing your majesty's principle secretaries of state the lord chancellor and the chancellor of dutchie of lancaster to use the existing

seals until other seals be prepared and authorized. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council authorizing your majesty's secretary of state for northern ireland to make use of the existing great seal of northern ireland until another seal be prepared and authorized. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council authorizing your majesty's first minister of scotland to make use of the great seal of scotland until another great seal of scotland be prepared and authorized. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council authorizing your majesty's first minister of wales to make use of the existing welsh seal until another welsh seal be prepared and authorized. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council authorizing the public seals, authorizing the respective

public seals, lately in use elsewhere than in the united kingdom to be made use of until new seals be prepared and their use duly authorized. >> approved. >> draft of an order in council confirming your majesty's wishes in relation to the sovereign grant act 2011, to continue the tradition of surrendering the hereditary revenues, including the crown of state, to your government for the benefit of all in return for the sovereign grant which supports your feshl duties as head of state and head of nation. >> approved. >> drafts of two proclamations, one, appointing the day of her late majesty's state funeral as a bank holiday in england, wales, and northern ireland.

two, appointing the day of her late majesty's state funeral as a bank holiday in scotland. and of two orders in council directing the lord chancellor to affix the great seal to the proclamations. >> approved. >> i now invite your majesty to sign both proclamations. >> richard, if you listen to this, as we're listening in, i mean, this is really housekeeping. a lot of signing of papers and orders and declarations. >> this is the plumbing of the transition of monarchy. if you do not have all these orders signed, then somebody will say, hang on, what was your

legal authority for signing this? why did you do this? so there's an entire rules and what they're literally doing with the ordering council, which is what today is called -- >> he gave approval to his seals being used. so when you see laws being signed, his seal will now replace his mother's seal and those laws to go to action. >> it's interesting, there's a law if my seal isn't ready you can use the other one. >> and the witnesses to the oath to exit by the picture gallery and the matted ball. >> so now the next i would imagine everyone exits and then we'll have the guarder king of arms? >> i think they want to witness the moment which is going out to the court -- so this is church and state effectively giving approval to the new king.

now they need to declare that to the public. so, you'll see the king of arms go out on to the balcony. he'll be accompanied by -- he'll be accompanied by -- >> thank you all for attending today. >> he'll be accompanied by the armed marshal. then they'll read the proclamation you seen signed and read out from the balcony and start hearing the gun salutes as well. they will also need to read that oath out in edinburgh as well and in cardiff. what you're doing there, going back a long time, telling people you have a new king. >> when does that happen? >> over the course of the day. you're going to see all sorts of symbolism over the course of the day, messages to the public so they know there's a new king. but richard and i would argue here over this, richard wants that to continue for the rest of

time. but effectively by putting television cameras in there they made all that redundant. >> exactly. >> you want the tradition and the formality. >> i take issue because what you're watching here is the foundation and the bedrock of constitutional monarchy. >> they don't have to do the flags and proclamations, just put it on tv. >> how would you do it? >> after this event. they're going to go and read it out around the nations. >> but these pictures are playing out all over is his point. >> so why declare it, why put the flags to half-staffed? i'm just saying it's redundant. not the constitution. >> why is this read out in different parts of the union? elizabeth norton? do we have the historian? >> i think it's really important that it is read out.

i know we all know that people are watching this on television across the uk. so in some respects it's a bit immaterial. but i think it's really important to keep with the history because actually, i mean, we have a long history of monarchy in britain and have been quite a few disputed successions. and these days that's not going to happen. but i think it is really important to go about it the right way and to keep with tradition. and the way it's been done for centuries. and i mean, partly people like the tradition. it sort of adds a bit of awe or majesty to the monarchy, i think. but i think also it is really important because you don't want anything that the monarch does to be challenged because the formalities haven't been carried out. >> well, i'm neutral in all of this. so it's now two against one. >> i'm genuinely ly not expres

an opinion we need to get rid of it. bringing cameras in, all the symbolism, it was done when a time they didn't have cameras and people needed to be told. >> perhaps it's redundant but it is tradition. >> i take richard's point as well that, you don't want it to be challenged. >> you don't want it to be challenged. of course they could pass an order in council that says this doesn't have to be read out in all those various different regional nations. but imagine if you're in wales and you're suddenly told the proclamation of your new king doesn't have to be read out formally. it sort of pulling at the threads. you can modernize, i'm all in favor of modernizing, but i think there's some crucially important parts of constitutional monarchy that require -- >> make you feel part of it. >> exactly. >> elizabeth, i was talking to richard and i said, this is essentially housekeeping, but it's important and i wish it was happening at a better time for

the united states so that -- because people -- most people are asleep in the united states, it's 5 in the morning, almost 6 in the morning eastern time. but i think it's important to see and witness this, elizabeth. >> i agree. and i think it's because actually the transition of power and monarchy doesn't take very often because of course it's reliant on the unfortunate death of the previous sovereign. actually it's a rare event because you know, you have to be in your late 70s at least to have any memory of this happening before. so i think it's of interest. we're used of seeing transition of different presidents in various countries and used to seeing prime ministers appointed over here. but monarchy is a just a little bit more special. it's supposed to be glamorous, if you like, because there is this mystique about it. so i think actually worldwide

there's an interest in this. i agree with you that i think it's a shame that it's happening so early in the morning. timings really are dictated -- you're normally supposed to do this within 24 hours of the death of the sovereign. and, of course, unfortunately the queen passed away late on thursday, which is meant that it's been pushed into saturday. but you know, i agree. i hope some people in the u.s. are awake and are watching this live. >> i just wanted to -- i was trying to point out she couldn't hear me but point out how many of these are there the proclamation. >> look at the line of people. >> they could hold this up and say, look, all of these people approve the king. >> this is the equivalent of all those people in philadelphia who signed the declaration of independence. in the u.s. terms, think of all the signatures on the declaration, all the signatures that were there at the time. and they're saying -- so if you're a privy counselor and an

important privy counselor, you want your signature on that piece of paper and you can say i was there and i took part. >> i have to say, elizabeth, as an american, this is quite fascinating to watch. even though this is not our system of government. it's important for the world to see because you don't often get to see this type of government especially with the monarchy and what's happening now. >> this is a glimpse, isn't it, into the british establishment we have never seen. people run the country away from business, these are the officials that run the country. >> go ahead, elizabeth. >> yeah. i was struck particularly by the references to the great seal which again is another symbol of monarchy and also in many respects completely out of date because of course -- so the documents of proclamation will be sealed with the great seals of nations with the uk. and this is the seal that is used to stamp into wax which

would be historically used to seal documents and will have an imprint of the design for the monarch. and it's completely redundant in that we don't seal documents today with wax. but it's actually really, really important -- >> signing the declaration, proclamation. >> it's fortunate this monarchy because it shows the royal stamp of approval and also links it in with the history. great seal in england, at least, goes back to the reign of edward the confessor, preconquest. so i think it's really important that we have these references to tradition and of course king charles will need to approve designs for his own great seals now that he's mon arch. from now they're using from previous reign. >> this was the really important line, the first one that we're seeing here, this particular one that they're signing. >> the former prime ministers. there's so many of them it will

take a while. >> seems to be fairly efficient, though, you know. because listen -- >> nothing has been more rehearsed in these moments. >> if we are thinking along the lines of the way that max foster is thinking, they could all sign this via docusign. >> i totally agree with elizabeth. it's redundant but still important. i get it involves -- this is how the nation gets involved in the constitution for having all these bits of history. >> right. >> but it's relevant because we saw it with boris johnson when he tried to parogue parliament, join the brexit negotiations and discussions. although the queen approved it because it's a constitutional monarchy, the courts overruled it being illegal. the problem with this, don, is you never know when this is going to come and bite you. you never know if you haven't got it where you're going to suddenly find it's gone wrong. that's why you do it. >> we don't have the written

constitution, so our constitution is in multiple moments like this. leader of the commons signing there. members of judiciary as well will be there. and you know, the king is head of judiciary, head of defense forces, head of government, head of church and all represented here. >> watching all these people in the room just imagining during the height of covid how this would have happened, how would this have taken place. >> what? i didn't hear you. >> all virtually. >> done by zoom. >> they would have found a way. >> i think we're about ten, 12 minutes away from the public declaration. so in the past, the public would not know anything about what's going on here. they would only start finding out in about 10, 12 moments when it gets declared publicly. >> so this is where the guarder

king of arms will come out on the balcony. >> you'll have state trumpeters and cannons. david cameron, former prime minister. >> we saw gordon brown moments ago, boris johnson signing as well. >> sentiment today between the somber for the changing of monarchy, the melancholy because of the death of the queen but also the celebration that a new reign has now begun. the reign of king charles iii. and there you see saint james, the courtyard at saint james with the band we saw playing past us getting ready for the official proclamation. >> it took all of what three minutes for that band to get there? >> officially is this the -- the official word is that king charles iii has taken an oath

related to the security of church of scotland. is that the official -- >> no, that's just a thing that's really important that they put at the front of the oath to show its importance. he will recognize the independence of the church of scotland which is separate from the state. the church of england is not separate. the church of scotland wants reassurance that it will be -- >> it is interesting that his speech started with bringing attention and homage to his mother, my lords ladies and gentlemen, most sorrowful duty to announce the death of my beloved mother, the queen. >> this is the contradiction of the day, of the week ahead. the mourning of the previous mon monarch, the sadness of losing the queen. i am astounded by the number of

posters and electronic screens. they've gone to black. we wear our monarchy very stiff upper lip. we're not like those countries that plaster the monarch's face everywhere. but here this is the time where every billboard, every electronic tube in the subway, all screens are showing pictures of the screen. >> this is full british pomp and pageantry. the guarder king of arms will come out and be with sergeant arms and read the proclamation. as he reads it, you'll hear the gun salutes. this will be a real moment. you'll see the state trumpeters as well declare the guarding of arms -- that's effectively him declaring them. >> there's a procession, what is there behind us? >> calvary, all part of the

moment. interestingly they will travel to mansion house city in the london, own city, where the financial quarters are, right? recognize that's part of this as well. >> because that was a different part of the system. the city of london, when we talk about the lord mayor today, you're talking about the lord mayor of the small one mile square now the financial center. the city of london because traditionally that had its own governance. >> this is so -- i'm noticing how quiet it is. one can't help but notice how quiet. there's reverence, as you said, that this sort of -- >> they're feeling history, aren't they, unfolding. >> history but also celebrating the new king while hoe nhonorin the memory of the queen they had for decades now.

it's an interesting moment for the monarchy as well as the commonwealth. >> it's all about these customs and traditions, which are important. i'm not saying they're not. you know, this is part of the process for us to accept and feel king charles. >> very significant, max. absolutely. in a constitution monarchy, you governor by the consent of the people, don. and that goes back to feudal times. most magna carta. but the significance of telling people this is your king. do you accept him? and that's what we're going through now. >> saint james palace attachment of king's guard, accompanied by a band is present. >> the household cavalry, the royal house artillery, the king's troupe, they're going up

there and there you have the life guards with the beef eater's hat. >> this is first of five key proclamations. the next one will be in the city of london, richard was describing, was traditionally a separate authority to the rest of london. then you'll have edinburgh for scotland, cardiff for wales and belfast for northern ireland and series of other proclamations and commonwealth realms, canada, australia, jamaica. >> we're looking at all of this. no one does pomp or circumstance or pageantry like the brits. >> also a show. they're building tension here. >> this is practiced and rehearsed? >> oh, every six months. >> this is the household division of the grenadier guards that you're looking at. you can tell the difference. i'm not going to claim i know the difference without looking at my cheat sheet. >> you can tell the difference of the various divisions of the

household ka valerie by the number of buttons they have. the scottish, the irish the welsh. >> king charles iii about to be proclaimed publicly saint james palace in london. the principle proclamation of king charles iii read at the guard accompanied by band is present at the court. that is what you're watching now. officially, even though he officially becomes king, correct, as soon as the queen dies. >> yeah. >> this puts a rubber stamp on it today. >> it's the proclamation. it's the show -- the establishment supports the king and the public is going to be taught about it. here we see the procession. >> there he is. >> we're looking for the guarder king of arms. these are the state trumpeters. so, times gone by this is them saying gather here for a major

announcement. real gold, those suits? >> are they? >> it's interesting because you walk by these buildings every single day. and then not until there is an occasion -- >> saint james really only comes into play at this moment. >> or occasions such as this that it gets the worldwide attention. ♪

>> so they're preparing the garter king of arms to come out and read the official proclamation. listen, everyone, it's very punctual here. they're probably waiting until exactly 11:00 a.m. time here to do it. but as soon as it happens, we will shut up and allow it to play out. >> it's called the principal proclamation, a moment where the king has gained the full support

of all the branchs of the state behind closed doors. that is declared to the public. and the principal proclamation is to be followed by other proclamations around the united kingdom and the commonwealth so everyone is fully aware. as it happens and it's read, the union flags currently half-staffed on public buildings will be raised to full massed and stay there until 1:00 and reduced back to half-staffed. what's the point here is that this is not just about the death of the monarch. it's about the future monarchy trying to balance the two. >> when will they go back to half? >> 1:00 our time, so two hours time. and there will be gun salutes. you'll hear in the background as it's being read. >> is it 1300 -- >> so d-i was -- >> tomorrow. >> yeah. >> it's 1:00 on sunday. >> that they'll go back to half? >> they'll go back to half. listen, we're waiting for this to be read. it should be read within a

minute or so. but after that, we'll take you forward a bit. the gun salutes at edinburgh castle. ♪ where as it is pleased almighty god to call to his mercy our late sovereign lady, queen elizabeth ii, of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the crown of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland is solely and rightfully come to the prince charles philip arthur george. we, therefore, the lord's spiritual and temporal of this realm and members of the house of commons, together with other members of her late majesty's priv