Queen Elizabeth's death and King Charles' accession

By Amy Woodyatt, Ed Upright, Adrienne Vogt, Maureen Chowdhury and Ivana Kottasová, CNN

Updated 4:22 p.m. ET, September 10, 2022
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8:44 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

Members of UK Parliament take oath of allegiance to King Charles III

From CNN's Sarah Diab in London

The members of UK Parliament have taken their oath of allegiance to King Charles III in the House of Commons on Saturday afternoon.

"I swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God," the MPs affirmed.

Attendees of the ceremony included current British Prime Minister Liz Truss, the leader of the opposition Keir Starmer and former Prime Minister Theresa May.

8:31 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

Pomp and circumstance: Photos from King Charles III's official proclamations and a day of ceremony

CNN Digital Photo team

Charles III was officially proclaimed the new King of the United Kingdom on Saturday. Here are some photos from the pageantry.

The UK's King Charles III speaks in the Throne Room at St. James's Palace during the Accession Council in London on Saturday. Joining him were his son Prince William and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort.
The UK's King Charles III speaks in the Throne Room at St. James's Palace during the Accession Council in London on Saturday. Joining him were his son Prince William and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort. (Jonathan Brady/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

Camilla, the Queen Consort, signs an oath during the meeting of the Accession Council.
Camilla, the Queen Consort, signs an oath during the meeting of the Accession Council. (Jonathan Brady/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

King Charles and Camilla attended the second section of the proclamation ceremony.
King Charles and Camilla attended the second section of the proclamation ceremony. (Jonathan Brady/Pool/AP)

Former British prime ministers attend the ceremony at St. James's Palace on Saturday. In the front row, from left, are Theresa May and John Major, along with Baroness Patricia Scotland. In the second row are Gordon Brown, left, and Tony Blair. Behind them are David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
Former British prime ministers attend the ceremony at St. James's Palace on Saturday. In the front row, from left, are Theresa May and John Major, along with Baroness Patricia Scotland. In the second row are Gordon Brown, left, and Tony Blair. Behind them are David Cameron and Boris Johnson. (Jonathan Brady/Pool/AP)

Members of the Coldstream Guards raise their hats as they salute the new King following his proclamation at St. James's Palace.
Members of the Coldstream Guards raise their hats as they salute the new King following his proclamation at St. James's Palace. (Daniel Leal/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

A 21-gun salute takes place at Cardiff Castle in Wales to mark the King's official proclamation.
A 21-gun salute takes place at Cardiff Castle in Wales to mark the King's official proclamation. (Ben Birchall/PA Images/Getty Images)

People gather ahead of the City Proclamation at the Royal Exchange.
People gather ahead of the City Proclamation at the Royal Exchange. (Stephanie De Sakutin/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

8:14 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

World leaders, including Vladimir Putin, congratulate Charles III on his proclamation

From CNN's Sarah Diab, Lauren Kent, Niamh Kennedy and Al Goodman

Congratulatory messages from around the world are pouring into London following the official proclamation of Charles III as the UK's new King.

President of the European Council Charles Michel has wished the new British monarch "a successful and glorious reign."

King Felipe VI of Spain sent this message:

On the auspicious occasion of the proclamation of your accession to the throne, I wish to extend to your Majesty, on my behalf and on behalf of the Spanish Government and people, our sincere congratulations.

Even the Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his wishes, saying: “Please accept my sincere congratulations on your accession to the throne. I wish Your Majesty success, good health and all the best.”

Putin's message comes as he is waging a war against Ukraine, a conflict in which the United Kingdom stands firmly on the side of Kyiv.

The UK has sent weapons to Kyiv and provided military training to help the country defend itself against the unprovoked Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also wished Charles well.

"On behalf of all Londoners, I wish our new monarch King Charles III every success as His Majesty takes on this momentous responsibility," Khan said in a tweet.

7:33 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

More than 30 corgis and 78 bathrooms. Here's the Queen’s reign in numbers

From CNN's Kara Fox and Henrik Pettersson

King Charles III has now been formally proclaimed as the UK's new monarch. In his first public address as King on Friday, he paid tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth II, saying she had "a life well lived":

Here's a look at Queen Elizabeth's life in numbers:

With 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth had 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She saw 15 UK Prime Ministers serve during her reign, as well as 14 US Presidents in office. 0 other British monarchs had served as long as her. She had visited more than 120 countries.

And now the more unusual stuff...

The Queen had a total of 78 bathrooms to choose from in Buckingham Palace and she had sat for over 200 portraits. There are 24 wax models of her at Madame Tussaud's wax museum, and she owned more than 30 corgis in her lifetime.

Read the full story here:

7:57 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace trying to catch a glimpse of King Charles III

From CNN's Adam Pourahmadi

King Charles III greets supporters as he arrives at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
King Charles III greets supporters as he arrives at Buckingham Palace on Saturday. (Felipe Dana/AP)

People packed into the walkways around Buckingham Palace to try and catch a glimpse of the newly proclaimed King Charles III on Saturday. 

Barriers were erected to keep the crowds on the sidewalks around The Mall -- the road that leads from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square -- and to clear the streets of spectators. An area for floral tributes to the late Queen is still open.

Around 10.15 a.m. local time (5.15 a.m. ET), the Buckingham Palace gates opened, and the household guards marched out around Victoria Monument, joining the band as they played marching songs en route to St. James's Palace for the proclamation ceremony at 11 a.m.

Excited spectators stood on the railings and took out their phones to record the march.

The Calvary Artillery then marched on towards Hyde Park in time for the gun salutes. Minutes later, the booms could be heard from St. James's Palace proclaiming the new King.

7:12 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

Second proclamation of King Charles III taking place in financial district

Pikemen of the Honourable Artillery Company, left, stand outside the Royal Exchange in the City of London, Saturday, September 10, before the reading of the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III.
Pikemen of the Honourable Artillery Company, left, stand outside the Royal Exchange in the City of London, Saturday, September 10, before the reading of the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III. (James Manning/PA/AP)

In the last hour, King Charles III was publicly proclaimed as the new monarch of the United Kingdom from the balcony above Friary Court, part of St. James's Palace.

A Second Proclamation is now being read at Royal Exchange -- in the heart of the financial district of the City of London -- and further proclamations will be read out across the country, in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, tomorrow.  

Where is this happening?

The City, also known as the Square Mile, is the financial district of London and home to Bank of England headquarters. It is "the ancient core from which the rest of London developed" and has been a center for commerce and ceremony since the Roman period, according to the City of London website.

"Today at noon a City Proclamation will be made from the steps of the Royal Exchange, proclaiming Charles III as King. The public are invited to watch the ceremony from designated viewing areas, but are urged to arrive early," said the City of London in a tweet on Saturday.
6:41 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

Here's what to know about Camilla, the Queen Consort

From CNN's Max Foster

Camilla visits Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2017.
Camilla visits Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2017. (Chris Jackson/Pool/Getty Images)

With her husband's accession to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, Camilla has become Queen Consort and will take on a new and more prominent role alongside King Charles III.

Just over 25 years after the death of Charles' first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, Camilla remains a divisive figure in Britain.

Here's what you should know:

Born Camilla Shand in July 1947, she reportedly met Prince Charles at a polo match in Windsor in 1970 and they became friends.

The following year Charles joined the Royal Navy and, while he was away, Camilla married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles. The couple had two children during the 1970s.

Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, but he admitted in 1994 that he had been having an extramarital affair with Camilla.
Camilla divorced from Andrew Parker Bowles in 1995. Charles and Diana divorced the following year and Camilla all but vanished from public life as public and media support swung behind the princess. The pro-Diana, anti-Camilla sentiment was compounded by the outpouring of sympathy for Diana after she was killed in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997.

In 1999, Clarence House embarked on a program to reintroduce Camilla to the public with a carefully orchestrated first appearance with Charles outside the Ritz Hotel in London. She moved into Clarence House to be with Charles and her name started appearing on official paperwork.

Their story reached its climax in 2005, when they were wed in Windsor, with the Queen's consent. Camilla, now known as Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, was confirmed as Charles' official consort and future queen of the United Kingdom.

Charles and Camilla after their wedding ceremony in 2005.
Charles and Camilla after their wedding ceremony in 2005. (Hugo Burnand/Pool/Getty Images)

The duchess threw herself into life as a senior royal, supporting Charles on official engagements in the UK and on overseas tours, despite her deep fear of flying. She quickly became an asset for the royal family and British government with her common touch and ability to dissipate the tension in a room.

The moment her husband became king, Camilla automatically became queen. However, it had long been thought that she wouldn't use the title, Clarence House having issued a statement in 2005 saying that she would instead be known as "Princess Consort." Some in the palace at the time felt the public wasn't ready for Camilla to take a title that had been destined for Diana.

But over the years, attitudes towards Camilla have softened. In 2015, a CNN poll found that one in four Britons had grown to like her more and fewer people opposed her becoming known as queen.

Then, in February 2022, the Queen used the landmark milestone of her Platinum Jubilee to give her blessing for the Duchess of Cornwall to be known as queen when the time came. It was a hugely significant intervention from the monarch, the only person who can define royal titles.

Read the full story here.

6:38 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

King Charles III publicly proclaimed as new King

From CNN's Niamh Kennedy

(CNN)
(CNN)

Amid much ceremony, King Charles III was publicly proclaimed as the new UK monarch from the balcony above Friary Court, part of St. James's Palace.

David Vines White is the Garter King of Arms, the senior official responsible for the heraldry of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He read the Principal Proclamation:

"We therefore the Lord Spiritual and temporal of this realm and members of the House of Commons together with other members of late Her Majesty's Privy Council, and representatives of the realm and territory, 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."

After the proclamation was read, state trumpeters situated below the balcony sounded the royal salute and a military band played the national anthem, God Save the King.

Watch: King Charles III publicly proclaimed as King.

6:16 a.m. ET, September 10, 2022

21-gun salute being fired from Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland

A 21-gun salute is taking place at Hillsborough Castle, in Northern Ireland, to mark the formal proclamation of the King, according to the UK's PA Media news agency.

PA reported that reservists from 206 Battery 105 Regiment Royal Artillery are firing the salute, and the Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker is in attendance.

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens will be closed on the day of the State funeral and will remain closed until the day after the funeral.