Proclamation ceremony to be held on Sunday

A ceremony to proclaim King Charles III will take place outside St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall on Sunday, September 11, at 2pm.

Following the sad death of the Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon, her eldest son Charles becomes the new monarch, but that needs to formalised through what is known as the Proclamation.

The Accession Council will meet on Saturday, at St James’s Palace in London, to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign.

The first public proclamation of the new sovereign is read in the open air from the Friary Court balcony at St James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms on Saturday.

That will be followed by a series of proclamations in other towns and cities — including Orkney at 2pm on Sunday.

Orkney’s Lord Lieutenant Elaine Grieve will say a few words to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and the proclamation will then be read by Council Convener Graham Bevan.

Flags, which have been flying at half-mast, following the Queen’s death, will be raised to full-mast for the two days of national and local proclamations.

After that, they will return to half-mast and remain so until 8am the day after the funeral.

A Book of Condolence is now open at St Magnus Cathedral and flowers can be laid on the Kirk Green.

Additional books are being distributed to communities with a list available shortly.