The second part, held in the red-carpeted Throne Room of the Palau de Sant Jaume, is considered the first council held by the new monarch and attended only by private councillors.
On Saturday it will be held immediately after the first half but historically this has not always been the case.
When King George VI died in the early hours of Wednesday 6 February 1952, at five o’clock that day the first part was held, proclaiming his daughter, Elizabeth, the new queen.
The second part was held two days later, at 10am on Friday, February 8, following the return of Queen Elizabeth of Kenya.
When King Edward VII abdicated at 2pm on Friday 11 December 1936, Parts 1 and 2, proclaiming King George VI as the new sovereign, were held the following day at 11am.
Everyone present will bow to the king before opening the second part with a personal statement related to his mother’s death.
In 1952, when Queen Elizabeth performed this duty, she addressed the councilors gathered at the Palau de Sant Jaume with the words:
“Due to the sudden death of my beloved father, I am called upon to assume the duties and responsibility of sovereignty.
“In this moment of deep sorrow, it is a deep consolation to me to be sure of the sympathy which you and all my people feel for me.”