The council met today to proclaim the new King.

It was broadcast live for the first time from St James's Palace in central London this morning.

In his personal declaration, the King said: "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."

The Clerk of the Council then read the Accession Proclamation, which declared King Charles the new monarch, Head of the Commonwealth, and Defender of the Faith (head of the Church of England).

He described the Queen as "our late sovereign lady".

Declaring Charles III King, he said: "We now hereby with one voice, and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that Prince Charles Philip Arthur George by the death of the late sovereign of our happy become, be our only lawful and rightful liege, King Charles III, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and his other realms and territories."

It was signed by the 'platform party' - first by heir apparent: Prince William, then Camilla, Queen Consort, followed by Lord President: Penny Mordaunt, Prime Minister Liz Truss, Lord Chancellor Brandon Lewis MP, the Lord Privy Seal, Earl Marshal, and the Archbishops of Canterbury (Justin Welby) and York (Stephen Cottrell).