It is there that he will be “anointed, blessed and consecrated” while seated in King Edward’s chair — from 1300 — and finally crowned.
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Charles is now the king of the British monarchy following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
The royal family’s website states that according to centuries-old accession protocol, the “new Sovereign succeeds to the throne as soon as his or her predecessor dies.”
Although the Act of Settlement from 1701 still gave the British government the duty of formally recognising the change in leadership, Charles, 73, is the legitimate successor to the throne and the new king.
In order to formally recognise Charles as the new monarch, an Accession Council will be called as soon as possible to convene at St. James’ Palace.
The council stated that invitations are extended to representatives of the remaining Commonwealth countries, and that it typically meets within 24 hours and “as soon as practical after the death.”
According to documents obtained by Politico, “Operation London Bridge,” the elaborate plan to handle the queen’s death that has been practised and modified since the 1960s, asks for the council to meet at 10 a.m. Friday.
The queen’s death and the Accession Proclamation designating Charles as the new Sovereign are both officially announced at the council’s first meeting, which Charles will not attend. Gunshots at the Tower of London and Hyde Park have usually come next.
Only then does Charles take part in the second phase of the ceremony, which customarily begins with a personal statement on the death of the predecessor and concludes with a declaration and oath as monarch.
After that, Charles will travel to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to officially announce the accession there as well in the coming days.
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According to custom, his ceremonial coronation would be postponed for a few months to allow for “a period of grief” and “the great amount of preparation required” to put it together, according to the royal family.
For “almost a thousand years,” the ritual “has essentially not changed,” with the last 900 years taking place at Westminster Abbey. The royals observe that it is presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has served as the Church of England’s spiritual head since 1066.
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