Historic moment King Charles III is declared sovereign and vows to follow his mother's example of 'lifelong love and selfless service' - before 'beloved' Queen Consort Camilla and Prince William sign proclamation

King Charles III has made a personal declaration on the death of his beloved mother Queen Elizabeth II today as Britain's new monarch was formally announced at St James's Palace in London today.

Charles automatically became Sovereign on the death of his mother aged 96 at Balmoral on Thursday, but the Accession Council - a body of advisers that dates back to the time of the Norman kings - has formally announced his role today.

Paying tribute to the Queen at the Accession Council, the King said: 'Her reign was unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.'

Making his declaration, Charles III said: 'My lords, ladies and gentlemen, it is my most sorrowful duty to announce to you the death of my beloved mother the Queen. I know how deeply you, the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathise with me in the irreparable loss we've all suffered.

'It is the greatest consolation to me to know the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and brothers. And that such overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family in our loss.'

Broadcast cameras were allowed into the historic event giving the world a first glimpse of an ancient ceremony dating back centuries - and one of the first changes to convention instigated by the new King.

Prime Minister Liz Truss joined Camilla, Queen Consort, William, Prince of Wales and 250 other dignitaries including the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the Prime Minister, the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Earl Marshal and the Lord President to sign the proclamation at 10am.

Former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair and Sir John Major, Labour former Cabinet minister Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the high commissioners of the 14 Commonwealth countries where Charles III is Head of State, are also on the body of the Accession Council.

During the event the Lord President - Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt, appointed by Ms Truss - announced the death of the sovereign and called upon the Clerk of the Council to read aloud the text of the Accession Proclamation before the body signed the document. It includes Charles's chosen title as King, already known to be King Charles III.

Charles III is expected to then enter for the second part of the council at 10.20am, attended only by privy counsellors and makes a personal declaration about the death of the Queen. He will take an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland and signs two documents to record it, with his wife Camilla and his son Prince William among those witnessing his signature.

At 11am a Principal Proclamation will be read in public for the first time by the Garter King of Arms in the open air from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James's.

It will be followed by a flurry of Proclamations around the country, with the second one at City of London at the Royal Exchange at midday on Saturday, and further Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at midday on Sunday.

In recognition of the new Sovereign, union flags will be flown at full-mast from the time of the Principal Proclamation at St James's Palace until one hour after the Proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, after which flags will return to half-mast in mourning for the death of the late Queen.

The ceremony is being staged a day later for King Charles III then normal practice because the announcement of the Queen's death did not come until early evening on Thursday, meaning there was not enough time to set the plans in motion for Friday morning.

Opening proceedings at the Accession Council, the Lord President said: 'My lords, it is my sad duty to inform you that Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has passed away on Thursday the 8th of September 2022, at Balmoral Castle. I propose that, when certain necessary business has been transacted, a deputation consisting of Her Majesty, His Royal Highness, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of York, the Prime Minister, the clerk of the Council, and myself, shall wait on the King and inform him the Council is assembled.'

Reading the text of the proclamation, the clerk of the council said: '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.'

He declared to the room 'God Save the King' and the packed room repeated the famous phrase.

The historic event comes after Charles gave a landmark address to the nation on Friday and paid a poignant and moving tribute to his 'darling Mama' the Queen who died on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral.

Charles said of his 'beloved mother': 'We owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example'.

The King pledged his whole life as service as the new sovereign just as the Queen did, saying: 'That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today'. And he used his speech to announce that he had created his son William the Prince of Wales, with Kate the Princess of Wales, and expressed his 'love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas', a symbol of his bid for reconciliation amid past troubles with the Sussexes.

He also paid tribute to his 'darling wife' Camilla, calling her 'my Queen Consort', saying he can 'count on her loving help' and praising her by saying: 'I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.'

The King also set out his changing role, as he steps away from his considerable charity work which shaped his life as the heir to the throne.