When Will Prince Charles Become King? Everything to Know About His Accession, Coronation and More

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

When Will Prince Charles Become King? Everything to Know About His Accession, Coronation and More

A new reign. After decades of preparations, Prince Charles is now the king of England. [ami-related id="2034932" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/prince-charles-through-the-years-his-life-in-photos/" title="Prince Charles Through the Years: The British Heir’s Life in Photos" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Prince-Charles-Through-the-Years-Future-King-of-Englands-Life-in-Photos-Feature.jpg?quality=40&strip=all" imgid="2035797" format="gallery" flag="" channel="1"] The transition began as soon as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Thursday, September 8, at age 96. “The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” Charles, 73, wrote in a statement. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” He continued: “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.” [jwplayer yWjfp2Iu-zhNYySv2] The late monarch had been on the British throne since February 6, 1952, when her father, King George VI, died at age 56. Charles was just 3 when the then 25-year-old royal became queen. He was the first child to witness his mother’s coronation as sovereign in June 1953. Elizabeth was the longest-reigning British monarch in history, while Charles was the longest-serving heir apparent ever. The queen kept her feelings about her family relatively private through the years, but she gave a heartfelt speech in celebration of Charles’ 70th birthday in November 2018. [ami-related id="1512857" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/a-breakdown-of-the-royal-line-of-succession-in-photos/" title="A Breakdown of the Royal Line of Succession" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/royal-line-of-succession-landing.jpg?quality=55&strip=all" imgid="1512841" format="gallery" flag="" channel="1"] “It is a privilege for any mother to be able to propose a toast to her son on his 70th birthday,” she said at the time. “It means that you have lived long enough to see your child grow up. It is rather like — to use an analogy I am certain will find favor — planting a tree and being able to watch it grow.” Elizabeth then applauded her son for his longtime dedication to his role. “Over his 70 years, [Prince] Philip and I have seen Charles become a champion of conservation and the arts, a great charitable leader — a dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history — and a wonderful father,” she continued. “Most of all, sustained by his wife, [Duchess] Camilla, he is his own man, passionate and creative. So this toast is to wish a happy birthday to my son, in every respect a duchy original.” As his mother grew older, Charles stepped up to take on more responsibilities and charted his course for the day he became king. “Charles has made it quite clear that he intends to slim down the monarchy and reduce the number of full-time working members of the family to those in the immediate line of succession,” Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell told Us Weekly in November 2020. [ami-related id="6335" url="https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/pictures/queen-elizabeth-ii-through-the-years-photos-w458631/" title="Queen Elizabeth II's Evolution From Princess to the Longest-Reigning British Monarch" target="_blank" thumb="false" imgsrc="https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/queen_elizabeth-1997cc8b-4f22-4d3d-a9c0-5ddb4cddccdc.jpg?quality=55&strip=all" imgid="568064" format="gallery" flag="" channel="33"] His eldest son, Prince William, is now first in line to the throne, while the 40-year-old Duke of Cambridge’s three children with Duchess Kate — Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4 — occupy the second, third and fourth slots, respectively. As for Charles’ destiny, a source revealed in November 2020, “This is something he’s dreamed about his entire life — he sees it as his birthright.” Scroll through the gallery below to see what will come next for Charles. [podcast_block]

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When Will He Become King?

Charles immediately became king when the queen died. He will next choose a regnal name, which may not be King Charles. While Queen Elizabeth opted to use her given name once she took the throne, some past rulers picked names associated with strong former monarchs or used one of their middle names. Charles was named Charles Philip Arthur George when he was born in November 1948, so he could decide on any of his monikers or another one entirely.  

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The Accession Council

Charles will be proclaimed as soon as possible when the Accession Council convenes at St James’ Palace. All of the members of the Privy Council will be summoned for the moment, while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London and high commissioners of realm Commonwealth countries will also be invited to attend. 

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The Declaration and Oath

After the proclamation, Charles will read a declaration and take an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland. The oath is known as the accession declaration — a vow to maintain the established Protestant succession — and is normally made at the next State Opening of Parliament.  

The public proclamation of the new sovereign will then be read publicly at St James’ Palace in London and in several locations in Edinburgh, Scotland, Cardiff, Wales, and Belfast, Ireland. 

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When Will the Coronation Take Place?

Charles’ coronation will not happen until months after his accession due to the period of mourning dictated and the amount of preparation that goes into organizing the ceremony. The event has been held at Westminster Abbey for 900 years and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Representatives of the Houses of Parliament, Church and State, prime ministers, leading citizens from the Commonwealth and representatives of other countries are expected to attend.  

Charles will take the coronation oath during the ceremony, agreeing to rule according to law, to exercise justice with mercy and to maintain the Church of England. He will subsequently be “anointed, blessed and consecrated” by the Archbishop while seated in King Edward’s chair. Charles will receive the ceremonial orb and scepters before St Edward’s Crown is placed on his head and Holy Communion is taken. 

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Will Camilla Become Queen?

There has been much debate about whether Camilla will ever become queen. Both she and Charles were divorced when they married each other in April 2005, and their affair allegedly contributed to his split from Diana. While a queen consort is often crowned with the king in a simpler ceremony, a press release issued in February 2005 clarified, “It is intended that Mrs. Parker Bowles should use the title the Princess Consort when the prince accedes to the throne.”  

However, while celebrating her Platinum Jubilee in February 2022, the sovereign opened up about her wishes for the Duchess of Cornwall's future title. “When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me,” the royal wrote in a statement reflecting on her 70-year reign. “And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”

An insider told Us at the time, “Charles is over the moon that his mother has given her seal of approval. It’s a dream come true.”