Political leaders past and present including SIX ex-Prime Ministers line up at Accession Council to watch Charles be proclaimed King
- The Accession Council is gathered at St James’s Palace to proclaim Britain’s new King, Charles III
- The country’s former Prime Ministers and leaders of the opposition are all in attendance at the palace
- Prime Minister Liz Truss is also at the ceremony along with members of the Royal Family and the Cabinet
- Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing
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All of Britain’s past and present political leaders are gathered together in one place in a historic moment as Charles III is officially proclaimed King.
The country’s six former Prime Ministers and leaders of the opposition are at the Accession Council at St James’s Palace today to confirm the new King following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
Former Prime Ministers John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson stood in the front row of the ceremony.
They were joined by former leader of the opposition Ed Miliband who led the Labour Party from 2010 to 2015 and Neil Kinnock, who did the same between 1983 and 1992. Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg also joined the Council this morning.
Members of The Royal Family and new Prime Minister Liz Truss are also in attendance, as is current Labour Party leader Keir Starmer.
The country’s political leaders, old and new, joined in chorus of ‘God Save The King’ to show their support for the new monarch.
Britain’s political leaders past and present: 1. Neil Kinnock (Labour Party leader and leader of the opposition 1983-1992) 2. Ed Miliband (Labour Party leader and leader of the opposition 2010-2015) 3. Keir Starmer (Current Labour Party leader and leader of the opposition) 4. Tony Blair (Labour Prime Minister 1997-2007) 5. Gordon Brown (Labour Prime Minister 2007-2010) 6. Boris Johnson (Conservative Prime Minister 2019-2022) 7. David Cameron (Conservative Prime Minister 2010-2015) 8. Theresa May (Conservative Prime Minister 2016-2019) 9. John Major (Conservative Prime Minister 1990-1997)
All six former Prime Ministers are in attendance at St James’s Palace in a historic moment as Charles III ascends to the throne
The past and present political leaders attended the Accession Council this morning to proclaim the new King, Charles III
The political leaders, old and new, joined in chorus of ‘God Save The King’ to show their support for the new monarch
Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson, who resigned as Prime Minister earlier this week, were seen chatting enthusiastically in the front row as they waited for the ceremony to begin.
Tony Blair could also be seen speaking to Keir Starmer ahead of the proclamation, while Theresa May could be seen speaking to her predecessor David Cameron.
Charles automatically became Britain’s new monarch on the death of his mother aged 96 at Balmoral Castle on Thursday afternoon, but the Accession Council – a body of advisers that dates back to the time of the Norman kings – is formally announcing his role today, in a ceremony being televised for the first time.
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 signed the proclamation.
Britain’s six former Prime Ministers arrived at the ceremony together this morning, alongside Baroness Scotland (front right)
King Charles III made a personal declaration about the death of the Queen and took an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland and signs two documents to record it
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