House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt joined senior politicians past and present as she led King Charles III’s accession council ceremony at St James’s Palace on Saturday.
Her additional role as president of the privy council, which she was given in the cabinet reshuffle just four days ago, meant she played a central role in the historic ceremony – the first to be held in 70 years and the first in history that was made. televised
After Charles made a formal “declaration” on the queen’s death, and read and signed an oath to maintain the safety of the Church of Scotland, Mordaunt outlined the king’s new orders, and he replied “ok” as I read each one.
The role of Lord Speaker of the Privy Council is by convention always an MP, and in recent years it has been typical for them to also act as Leader of the House of Commons or Lords.
Previous holders of the post include Neville Chamberlain and Clement Attlee and more recently Michael Foot, Peter Mandelson, Andrea Leadsom and Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Charles was joined at the accession council ceremony by Camilla, the new queen consort, and the new Prince of Wales, his son William.
Other attendees included former prime ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, as well as archbishops, judges and several senior members of the House of Lords.
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After the ceremony of the privy council, the King of Arms publicly read a main proclamation from the balcony overlooking the convent court of the Palau de Sant Jaume.
By law, Charles became king the moment his mother died on Thursday afternoon. However, on the basis of an immemorial custom, the council must meet and transact certain business.
The event, which symbolizes the union of 1707 between Scotland and England, was followed by trumpeters and a colorful series of heralds. The reformulated national anthem received one of its first outings.
‘God Save the King’: King Charles III Officially Proclaimed Britain’s New Monarch: Video
Penny Mordaunt was the breakout star of the early days of the Tory leadership contest, where she came second in every MP vote apart from the crucial final.