Canada proclaims Charles king in ceremony in Ottawa

By Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada proclaimed Charles its king on Saturday in a formal ceremony at the official residence in Ottawa of the governor general, the monarch’s representative in Canada who performs the duties of the head of state on behalf of the crown.

Earlier, an Accession Council met at St James’s Palace in London to proclaim Charles sovereign. The ceremonies are protocol and formalize the change in head of state.

Charles, 73, automatically became king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms, including Canada, when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, died on Thursday at age 96.

Canada announced a 10-day mourning period for the queen. Although Canada ceased being a colony of Britain in 1867, it remained in the British Empire until 1982, and is still a member of the Commonwealth of former empire countries that have the British monarch as head of state.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon signed an order in council proclaiming the new sovereign after a Cabinet meeting.

Trumpets then announced the exit of Canada’s chief herald from the residence. He read the order in council proclaiming the new monarch to the public in both English and French, ending with, “Long live the King!”

The ceremony ended with a 21-gun salute and the armed forces band playing “God Save the King.”

(Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Matthew Lewis)