Wokingham: Proclamation of the new King, HRH King Charles III
The main proclamation took place at St James's Palace, London on Saturday 10th September and the following day in many other towns across the UK, including Wokingham
The proclamation is a tradition that spans many centuries, especially during the times long before modern technology’s existence, television, broadcasting, newspapers. This would have been the first announcement the people of any town would have received when a monarch died and their heir had acceded them.
This would have traditionally been a person such as the County Sheriff who would have called upon the local officials, clergy, members of parliament and many others. Local residents would also be invited to attend to learn of the unfolding events.
Flags across the country have been at half mast since the Queen’s death on Thursday but during the proclamation they are momentarily raised and afterwards returned to half mast for the remainder of the mourning period.
A local photographer, from Wokingham Today had found a great location to film and photograph the events from a Restaurant first floor window. I hope he got some good footage from there. It was quite a small window too and his tripod precariously perched. I think I found some of his photos on Wokingham Today’s site and they’re really good. Glad my vantage point is different, as mine have all gone to Alamy for reportage purposes.
More floral tributes had been spread out in front of the town hall entrance, with this beautiful tribute, it says:
The Queen was kind and wonderful
She served her people well
She was Elizabeth the second
She died on Thursday 8th of September
There were many, many more
The Proclamation started promptly at 2pm with members of the local cadets and their Flight Lieutenants, initiating the proceedings.
The Mayor of Wokingham Cllr Caroline Smith addresses the officials, including local MPs and the general congregation. Her solemn address is to announce the death of the Queen and that Charles Philip Arthur George, as her successor, King Charles III.
It was a fascinating event, a special moment to witness and I will certainly capture any other event I am able to get to in the weeks, months and years to come.
History
Today’s ceremony was of course one of many such events that have taken place over the course of history. I found this archival image this evening which is fascinating to compare with my own photographs taken today. There are some small differences but Wokingham’s market square is not hugely different.
I am a massive believer in capturing images for future generations and to place them with a library I trust to be around for a long time into the future, perhaps (hopefully) long after we’re all dead! You can learn so much from a picture, as in the photo above. Can you spot the people on the rooftop?
Photography existed at this point in time and I suspect many of the people in the crowd may not have heard the news until this actual point in time. Which is utterly fascinating and crazy to think nowadays.