Prince William seen for first time after Queen’s death as he signs proclamation to make his father Charles the King
GRIEVING Prince William has been seen for the first time since his grandmother’s death after an eleventh-hour dash to her bedside.
The newly-appointed Prince of Wales formed part of the Accession Council that has formally appointed King Charles as sovereign today.
Queen Consort Camilla, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Prime Minister were also among those who signed the Proclamation.
Reading the text of the proclamation, the clerk of the council declared to the room “God Save the King” and the packed room repeated the famous phrase.
Following tradition, the new King was missing from proceedings and did not witness senior figures from national life taking part in the ceremony.
It comes as…
- King Charles has been formally declared Monarch in an historic Accession ceremony
- The Queen’s state funeral WILL be a bank holiday after King Charles today gave his approval
- One of the Queen’s last guests at Balmoral has told of his final poignant conversation with Her Majesty
- King Charles III paid tribute to his “darling Mama” in an emotional first address to the nation
- King Charles told Harry ‘it wasn’t right’ for Meghan to come to Balmoral
- King Charles III addressed the nation for the first time as monarch
Following the council, Charles entered the throne room as he announced his mother’s death and vowed to follow her “inspiring example”.
Charles added: “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.”
Prince William then signed the proclamation in an emotional moment with his father.
Broadcast cameras were allowed into the historic event giving the world a first glimpse of an ancient ceremony dating back centuries – and one of the first changes to convention instigated by the new King.
It is also the first time that women have been present at the Accession Council.
Read more on the Queen's death
It comes after William and wife Kate Middleton were last night awarded the titles Prince and Princess of Wales.
King Charles made the declaration in his first address to the nation.
He said: “Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru.
“With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.”
The name change means not only is William following in his father’s footsteps, but Kate is the first person to use the title Princess of Wales since Diana.
The couple’s children are also now Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales.
Following the announcement, a source said Kate “appreciates the history associated with this role” but wants to “create her own path“.
King Charles also gave a nod to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the address.
He said he wished to “express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas”.
The mention came after Harry was pictured leaving Balmoral for Windsor alone yesterday.
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He too faced a race against time to join his family in saying goodbye to his beloved grandmother.
But he arrived at the estate at 8pm – an hour-and-a-half after Buckingham Palace announced the Queen had passed away.
William had raced to the Queen’s bedside on Thursday after medics revealed they were “concerned” for her health.
He drove his uncles Prince Andrew and Prince Edward into Balmoral along with Sophie Wessex but sadly none of them made it in time to say goodbye.
King Charles III and Princess Anne were at their mother’s bedside when she died as they were already in Scotland at the time.
