A proclamation of the King Charles III took place in Witney.

Hundreds of people in towns and villages also attended events throughout West Oxfordshire where they cheered and sang the national anthem God Save The King as they gathered to celebrate his accession to the throne.

Charles was officially proclaimed King at a ceremony at St James's Palace on Saturday and smaller ceremonies followed around the UK.

The King became the monarch after the death of his mother, HM Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday.

The proclamation was led by the Mayor Of Witney, Cllr Liz Duncan, and delivered by Royal representative the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Rod Walker.

Witney Town Band and cadets from 2120 Squadron and the Army Cadet Force were in attendance.

The Union flag at West Oxfordshire District Council was raised to full mast over the weekend while the proclamation took place.

READ ALSO: Britons encouraged to clap for Queen on doorsteps tonight

The flags were then lowered to half-mast again where they will remain until the morning after the Queen's State funeral on September 19.

In Carterton, the proclamation was delivered from the balcony of the Town Hall by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Ron Spurs and cheered by around 250 well-wishers and councillors below.

A large floral tribute to the Queen has been laid on the town's war memorial.

The proclamation goes back centuries, the idea being that word-of-mouth was the only way of cascading information.

Cllr Sandra Coleman, Mayor of Chipping Norton led a ceremony which attendees said was "very moving" from the steps of the Town Hall.

Representatives of The Royal British Legion, Chipping Norton Fire Service, St Mary's Church, Chipping Norton councillors and previous mayors cheered the proclamation delivered by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Martin Fiennes.

The Oxfordshire county and city proclamation was read by the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Mark Beard, at Carfax.

Councillor Susanna Pressel, chair of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The proclamation ceremony brought our communities together to reflect on the end of the reign of our longest serving monarch and the succession of the new Sovereign.

“Although the passing of Queen Elizabeth II is a time of great sadness for the people of Oxfordshire, and for the nation and Commonwealth, today is also a moment of hope, a seamless continuation of our constitutional monarchy, with the proclamation of the accession of Charles III.

“We wish His Majesty well in his forthcoming duties and responsibilities.

“God save the King.”

The proclamation of a new monarch was last performed in February 1952 on the accession of Queen Elizabeth II.

Ceremonies in West Oxfordshire’s villages were conducted on Sunday at the discretion of councils starting at 2pm.

 

 

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