The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, the Lord Mayor of Exeter and the Chief Executive of Exeter City Council will position themselves on the Dais in front of the Cathedral
The Mace Sergeant will announce:
Oyea, Oyea, Oyea. All manner of persons having anything to do with, His Majesty’s Lord/Deputy Lieutenant of Devon; the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor and the Dean of this Historic City’s reading of the Proclamation, draw near and give attendance”.
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant welcomes the assembly
We come together this afternoon following the passing of our late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth the Second. Our sadness at this time is shared by people across the globe, as we remember with affection and gratitude, the lifetime of service given by our longest-reigning Monarch.
But the basis on which our monarchy is built has ensured that through the centuries the Crown has passed in an unbroken line of succession. Today’s ceremony marks the formal Proclamation to the people of the City of Exeter, of the beginning of our new King’s reign.
Yesterday the Accession Council met at St James’s Palace to proclaim our new Sovereign. The flags which had flown at half-mast since the Queen’s death were raised briefly to their full height to mark the start of His Majesty’s reign. Which is why the flags at the Historic Guildhall and Exeter Cathedral, are currently being flown at full mast today.
The Accession Council also made an Order requiring all High Sheriffs to cause the Proclamation to be read in the areas of their jurisdiction. The High Sheriff of Devon discharged that duty earlier today and now, with my humble duty, I will shortly invite the Lord Mayor of this Ancient and Loyal City to invite the Chief Executive and Growth Director of Exeter City Council to bring the words of the Proclamation to the citizens of Exeter.
The proclamation of the new Sovereign is a very old tradition which can be traced back over many centuries. The ceremony does not create a new King. It is simply an announcement of the accession which took place immediately on the death of the reigning monarch.
In an age where modern methods of communication convey news around the globe in an instant, the proclamation is no longer the means by which people learn for the first time that they have a new Monarch. Today, however, is one of the first occasions when communities have an opportunity to come together and reflect on the moment in our nation’s history when the reign of our longest-serving Monarch came to an end and our new Sovereign succeeded.
There is a tradition that when the Monarch visits a borough, the Mace, the symbol of Authority, is inverted in recognition of the authority of the Crown. In today’s ceremony, the Mace will be inverted [the Mace Sergeant inverts the Mace] along with the Sword of Maintenance [the Sword-Bearer inverts the Sword] which is a symbol of Exeter’s allegiance to the Crown, as a signal of recognition that the Crown has passed from our late Sovereign to her Successor.
I know have the greatest honour and privilege of inviting the Lord Mayor of this Great Historic City to introduce Mr Karime Hassan to read the Proclamation out to the Citizens of Exeter and our guests who are visiting.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Yolonda Henson.
The Lord Mayor will invite the Chief Executive.
I have the great honour of inviting Karime Hassan, the Chief Executive and Growth Director of Exeter City Council to read out the Proclamation.
Chief Executive reads the Proclamation.
Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second of Blessed and Glorious Memory, by whose Decease the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George: We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm and Members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty’s Privy Council and representatives of the Realms and Territories, Aldermen and Citizens of London, and others, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim that The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the Death of our late Sovereign of Happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom we do acknowledge all Faith and Obedience with humble Affection; beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign to bless His Majesty with long and happy Years to reign over us.
Given at St. James’s Palace on tenth day of September in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-two.
The Union Flag, which has been at half-mast, is now raised. Chief Executive to step off Dais, Dean to step up
The Lord Mayor says: God save the King.
The assembly replies three times: God save the King. God save the King. God save the King.
The Dean of Exeter says
Prayer of Accession
Almighty God, ruler over all the nations of the world and guardian of all who lead them, you have called your Servant our Sovereign Lord, King Charles, to the throne of this realm: guide him with your wisdom, strengthen him with your power, and let justice, truth, and holiness, peace and love, and all those virtues that come from you, flourish in his days.
Grant that all he will say and do will be to your glory, and for the welfare of his people; and give us grace to obey him gladly and willingly, with integrity; that neither our sinful inclinations, nor our selfish concerns, may undermine his care for the public good.
Let him always possess the hearts of his people that we may honour him and submit dutifully to his authority. Let his reign be long and prosperous, and crown him with immortality in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
A Prayer for the King
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign Lord, King Charles, and all who are in authority under him: that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
All Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with confidence, as our Saviour taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
All Amen.
Hymn
All sing
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home:
Under the shadow of thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, from everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in thy sight are like an evening gone, short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the op’ning day.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, Be thou our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home.
Words: Psalm 90 trans . Isacc Watts (1674-1748) Tune: St Anne
The Bishop stands on the Dais and concludes with this blessing:
Blessing
God grant to the living, grace; to Our Late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth and all the departed, rest; to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth, and all humankind, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen.
The Lord Mayor says:
God save the King.
The assembly replies three times: God save the King. God save the King. God save the King.
National Anthem
All sing:
God save our gracious King! Long live our noble King! God save the King! Send him victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us, God save the King.
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant calls for three cheers for His Majesty the King.
The Mace Sergeant closes the ceremony:
Oyea, Oyea, Oyea, All persons in attendance at His Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Exeter, the Lord Bishop and the Very Reverend Dean of this Ancient and Loyal City’s reading of the Proclamation, may now depart.