As the journey leading up to the solemn funeral begins amid celebrations of the Queen Elizabeth, her eldest son Charles, now King Charles III, has become king at the exact moment of his mother’s death.
The world woke up without Queen Elizabeth, who died at 96 on September 8.
It may sound gory, but this has been how it has been for centuries.
A few hours after the announcement of the queen’s death, the new sovereign issued a statement saying he was “consoled by the great affection of the world for his beloved mother.”
He and his queen consort Camilla, consecrated by Elizabeth II herself a few months, in the space of one afternoon, all the titles in their possession, Duke and Duchess of Cornwall for both, Prince of Wales only for Charles, fell and now they will begin, together, the long journey that will lead Charles and his wife to the day of the coronation.
The protocols for the Queen’s death
There has been talking everywhere of the London Bridge protocols and the Unicorn operation, that is, the procedures oiled for some time to be activated in the event of the sovereign’s death in London or, as happened, in Scotland.
At the launch of the press release at lunchtime on September 8, many had sensed that the sovereign might already be dead and that, for sheer formality, she was waiting for the right moment to communicate it to the world. When all her relatives arrived at her bedside, the announcement was made at 7.30-6.30 pm British time, with confirmation that the Queen had passed away in the afternoon.
In those two hours, Carlo, despite himself and amid sorrowful grief like the one he suffered, was “recognized” by the brothers present and by his son William as king.
In the next few hours, he will meet Prime Minister Liz Truss, whom the queen has made in time to meet on September 6 and allegedly deliver a speech to the nation.
Also, in the next few hours, as usual, Charles III will be formally proclaimed king during the ceremony of the Accession Council.
Meanwhile, the sovereign’s coffin will travel backward from Scotland to London by train.
It will then be exhibited in Westminster for subjects who want to give her a last farewell.
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth will be held in 10 days, the time necessary to carry out all these solemn procedures: Buckingham Palace has issued a sort of vademecum of condolence in which it is explained what will happen in the coming days, how to pay homage to the sovereign in the Book of Condolences virtual, on how the flags will be hoisted on the royal palaces and, in general, on the period of mourning that will follow the funeral.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the new Dukes of Cornwall
Now that his father Charles is king, William has inherited his main duchy, that of Cornwall.
In the minutes following the announcement of the queen’s death, the handle of the Instagram profile of the Dukes of Cambridge changed.
Now the words “Dukes and Duchess of Cornwall” anticipate the historical one of William and Kate.
We do not yet know which one they will use formally, but the title inherited from their father, Carlo, is the main one, at least from a hierarchical point of view.
As widely anticipated, at a certain point, Prince William will also be Prince of Wales: it is the title intended for the eldest son of a sovereign.
And his wife Kate Middleton will become Princess of Wales, a vacant post after Diana‘s death, who was the last to hold it.
Prince William is now the heir to the direct throne, first in the line of succession along with his father.
They are followed by little prince George, his sister Charlotte and Louis.
Although they are no longer part of the inner circle of senior royals, Prince Harry and his sons have retained their place in the line of succession to the British throne, coming just after the Cambridge cousins.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s children have become prince and princess
Until (and if) King Charles III does not change the protocol, the children of the Dukes of Sussex, on the death of Queen Elizabeth, formally became prince and princess because, according to a protocol of King George V issued in 1917, all the children and grandchildren Direct of a sovereign automatically acquire the treatment of royal height and prince.
So, formally, Archie and Lilibet have seen their status transform.
Still, it is not yet confident that Carlo will not rectify the protocol, given their relationship.
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