Mayor of Chelmsford leads city’s Proclamation

Residents joined the Mayor of Chelmsford on Sunday 11 September to witness a piece of civic history as the city proclaimed the reign of His Majesty King Charles III.

People lined Duke Street just outside the Civic Centre to hear Cllr John Galley, the Mayor of Chelmsford, read the official Proclamation for our new King.

The Proclamation of the Sovereign is an old tradition which can be traced back over many centuries. The ceremony doesn’t create a new King, it is simply an announcement of the accession which took place immediately on the death of the reigning Monarch.

City Proclamation follows other ceremonies

After the Principal Proclamation at St James’s in London, a series of proclamations then took place in strict order across the country. It was the city of Chelmsford’s turn to deliver this address at 2pm and the ceremony began with an introduction from the Deputy Lieutenant of Essex, Vincent Thompson.

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"Our sadness at this time is shared by people across the globe, as we remember with affection and gratitude the lifetime of service given by our longest-reigning Monarch. But the basis on which our monarchy is built has ensured that through the centuries the Crown has passed in an unbroken line of succession."

Vincent Thompson, Deputy Lieutenant of Essex

Mayor of Chelmsford led Proclamation

The Mayor of Chelmsford led the main part of the ceremony, reading words issued by the Accession Council to be read in communities across the country. The Vice Dean of Chelmsford, Revd Canon Ivor Moody then read a prayer in thanks for Her Majesty The Queen’s extraordinary lifetime of service to the country and delivered a blessing for our new King.

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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.

The text of the Proclamation read by the Mayor of Chelmsford

Historic ceremony brought people together

In an age where modern methods of communication convey news around the globe in an instant, the Proclamation is no longer the way that people learn that they have a new Monarch, but it is one of the first occasions for communities to come together and reflect on the start of a new chapter in our nation’s history.

The event was watched by city councillors, former Mayors of Chelmsford and representatives from the local community. They joined residents with three cheers for His Majesty King Charles III and to sing the National Anthem, which was played by the Chelmsford Salvation Army Band.

Union Flag half-masted again

At the end of the ceremony, the Union Flag at the Civic Centre, which had been raised to full-mast to mark the accession, was again lowered to half-mast.

Books of condolence are available at venues across the city for you to share a personal message of mourning and celebrate the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.