The streets and parks around Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral have been packed with people for the past two days. Many people want to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II by bringing flowers and letters of condolence.
What is the schedule for Saturday?
- At 11 a.m., King Charles III will be officially proclaimed King at a meeting of the Accession Council at St James’s Palace in London, attended by his son, Prince William.
- At 12:00 p.m., following the Membership Council meeting, the main proclamation announcing Charles as Sovereign will be read from the balcony.
- At 1 p.m. the same proclamation will be read at the Royal Exchange in the City of London (then Sunday at noon in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales).
- The flags will be flown atop the masts for 26 hours to mark the new monarch’s accession to the throne following the proclamation in London, until one hour following the proclamations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. They will be returned to half mast during the period of national mourning.
- Between 3pm and 11pm on Saturday, Parliament will meet for MPs to pay their respects to the late Queen.