Following the sad death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, we are now in a period of National mourning. In these changing times for our country, there has been one constant in most of our lives: our monarch who had reigned for over 70 years and for many of us has been the only monarch we have known. We now enter a new period in our country’s history, with a new King Charles III.
Over the weekend, our community came together at various times not only for silent reflection, and prayer for Her Majesty, as a mark of respect for the service she has given to our country, but also to share stories and memories of the time when they may have met her.
As the Town Council, we thought long and hard about whether we should postpone events or continue with them last weekend. Concluded, having opportunities for people to come together was important and we ensured they were respectful by having two minutes of silence before they started.
Locally we did not have the Proclamation read out although it has to be done for the country. It was not a decision taken lightly, but on balance, it was felt that for the first time ever, the Proclamation was televised and as such, wherein historical times the only opportunity citizens had to hear it read out was local, in this digital age, everyone has had a chance to witness history being made, meaning a local proclamation was less necessary. Whilst the Town Council chose not to hold a physical proclamation event as it would have had a limited reach in comparison with the national coverage, the Town Mayor and the whole Town Council would like to express loyalty and support for our Country’s new monarch, King Charles III.
If you would like to read the wording of the proclamation made just after 11 o’clock on the morning of September 10th 2022, at Friary Court at St. James’s Palace in London, I have included them below.
”Whereas it has 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 lords spiritual and temporal of this realm, and members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty’s Privy Council, and representatives of the realms and territories, aldermen, and 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 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 reign, to bless His Majesty with long and happy years to reign over us.”
Town Clerk, Simon Fisher