How the new sovereign is proclaimed
The wording of the proclamation is an officially approved text, and it has traditionally been delivered with solemnity and in front of important dignitaries. In form and content, it has changed little over the years.
These are the words that were read out on 11 September 2023:
"Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second 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 the Third, 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 reign to bless His Majesty with long and happy Years to reign over us.
"Given at St James's Palace this tenth day of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-two.
"GOD SAVE THE KING"
When Charles I was proclaimed king in 1625, the wording was very similar. This is the proclamation read by the Portreeve Henry Flemyng in Swansea Market Place:
"Whereas it hath pleased Allmightie God to call out of this life, our late deere Soveraigne Lord Kinge James of most happy memory (unto whose Royall Scepter and Diademes of great Britaynie and Ireland, with all the rest of his Dominions the most highe and mightie Prince Charles his deere sonne is the sole true and undoubted heire and lawfull Successor)
"Wee his most faithful and loving subjects the Portreve and inhabitants of this towne and hundred of Swanzey nowe present do with joyfull harts and unanime consents (according to our Duties in this behalfe) declare and proclaime our nowe soveraigne Lord Charles to be by the grace of God Kinge of Great Brittany France and Ireland, defendor of The faithe whose happye Raigne over us, God longe Preserve.
"God Save King Charles."
In 1760, the proclamation of George III in Neath was a solemn civic event:
"Proclaimed in the borough of Neath on Wednesday the 5th of November by Richard Morgan, deputy Constable of the Castle of the said borough, when and where attended Herbert Mackworth senior, esquire, Lord of the said borough, William Howell, gentleman, Portreeve, the Aldermen and Burgesses thereof with several neighbouring gentlemen, accompanied by 12 militiamen of Neath Hundred in their full accoutrements with their sergeant, a recruiting sergeant, 2 French horns, 2 drums and colours."
Both of these extracts are taken from the borough minute books preserved at the Archives.
Next. read about how we celebrated the coronation in times gone by →
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