King Charles III will be proclaimed as the country’s new monarch at historic ceremonies across Greater Manchester this weekend. Public announcements will be made in each borough on Sunday, with some roads being closed to allow the events to take place.
Charles will first be officially proclaimed King this Saturday at St James’s Palace, in London before a ceremonial body known as the Accession Council. The wording of the proclamation may change, but has traditionally been a series of prayers and pledges that praise the previous monarch and pledge support for the new one.
Events in Greater Manchester are expected to draw large crowds to witness a new era being ushered in, following the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. Below is a list of arrangements for each borough in the city region.
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Bolton
The public proclamation of the accession of King Charles III to throne will take place in Bolton on Sunday afternoon but final details of time and place have not yet been published.
Bury
The proclamation will take place in Union Square, opposite the main entrance of Bury Town Hall, at 3pm on Sunday. The reading will be delivered by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Shaheena Haroon, and Knowsley Street will be closed for the brief duration of the announcement.
Residents are welcome to attend, or watch the proclamation on a live stream here.
Flags across the borough are currently being flown at half-mast until 11am on Saturday, when they will be raised to full mast to mark the National Proclamation of the new monarch. They will then be lowered to half-mast at 1pm on Sunday in line with protocol.
Anyone who wishes to lay floral tributes to the Queen is asked to lay them in a dedicated area in Kay Gardens, Bury.
Manchester
The proclamation will take place in front of Central Library, in St Peter’s Square, Manchester, at 1pm on Sunday. The event – which members of the public are welcome to attend - is the formal ‘county’ proclamation of the beginning of King Charles III’s reign and follows proclamations to the people of London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast which will take place earlier.
Local leaders say it is an opportunity for people to come together and reflect on an historic moment in the country’s history. Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Donna Ludford and Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Diane Hawkins will give introductory addresses before High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Lorraine Worsley-Carter MBE reads the proclamation.
The mayors of the other nine Greater Manchester local authorities, who will be in attendance, will then be given copies of the proclamation to read in their own areas afterwards. The national anthem will also be played during the short ceremony, which is expected to last about half an hour.
Oldham
The Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Elaine Garry, will read out the Proclamation of the new King, on the steps of the Old Town Hall - facing the War Memorial - at 3pm on Sunday. Members of the public are invited to attend.
Rochdale
The Mayor will read a Proclamation to formally announce King Charles III as sovereign at 3pm on Sunday outside Number One Riverside, in the town centre. The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Ali Ahmed, will invite councillors, council officers, Honorary Aldermen, local MPs, local Deputy Lieutenants, the Mayor’s Chaplain, Borough Dean, the Vicar of Rochdale and residents to attend the ceremony.
People wishing to attend the event should arrive between 2.30pm and 3pm. The service will end at approximately 3.15pm when all guests will be asked to disperse.
Salford
The ceremony will take place in front of the steps at Swinton Civic Centre at 4pm on Sunday. Ceremonial Mayor of Salford Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys will read the proclamation.
The flag will be raised to full mast to mark the start of the ceremony and lowered again to half-mast at the end of the ceremony. The bells at St Peter’s CE church will be rung in celebration of Charles’ accession to the throne.
Stockport
The Mayor will be reading out the Proclamation of the new King at 3pm on Sunday. This will take place on the steps of Stockport Town Hall, facing the Cenotaph. Those who wish to attend, should arrive from 2.30pm.
The A6 will be closed outside the Town Hall from 2pm until 4pm for the service to take place.
Tameside
The proclamation of the new monarch, official silence and state funeral are being organised. Civic events, which were to be held in the borough between now and the Queen’s funeral will be cancelled/rearranged. Details will be published as soon as possible.
Trafford
Residents are invited to gather at Trafford Town Hall to hear Mayor Coun Chris Boyes reading the proclamation of King Charles III at 2pm on Sunday. The Mayor will be accompanied by Trafford dignitaries, including council leader Andrew Western, borough councillors and Aldermen.
Wigan
On Sunday, a formal proclamation will take place at 3.30pm on Believe Square. Members of the public are invited to come and pay their respects to Her Majesty.
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