Crowds descended on Reading to watch the Proclamation of King Charles III today.
Residents from the town and beyond wished The King luck and well wishes, as his accession to the throne was formally announced to Berkshire and the people of Reading in two ceremonies.
The Proclamations, which took place outside the Town Hall at 1pm and Reading Minster at 2pm, would traditionally have been the first time residents would hear they had a new king or queen.
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Onlookers Swee and Terence Lloyd, from Caversham, said they felt mixed emotions at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the hope King Charlies III inspired in them.
“It was an historical event, something we will never see again and it was good,” said Mrs Lloyd.
“I feel sad obviously, after all the work she had done and all the love she gave to everybody. She felt like our granny as well.
Mr Lloyd added: “I saw it [the proclamation] on the TV but it was nice to have it locally as well.
“I’m looking forward to the reign of the new King.”
He continued: “So far he hasn’t put a foot wrong, the way he mingled outside the palace and outside Clarence House, he seems to be doing very well.”
Outside Reading Minster in St Mary’s Butts, the Mayor of Reading, Rachel Eden, spoke to a packed street about the town’s gratitude for the lifetime of service given by the UK’s longest-reigning Monarch, before the High Sheriff of Berkshire marked the start of King Charles III’s reign.
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Hanne Wheeler, from Tilehurst, said: “I feel it’s a great loss to have lost the Queen.
“But I am also very proud of King Charles, that he is standing up for his faith and for becoming the King that we need to have.
“I feel he has won the people over already in his new role, and I’m really looking forward to a future where we will all see his reign and his leadership.
“It couldn’t actually come at a more important time than now, when everybody is looking for hope and leadership.
“I will miss seeing the Queen being around. She was always there, she was that stability and that is a difficult one to live up to for anyone.
“God save the King.”
King Charles III was publicly proclaimed the new monarch for the first time in a ceremony on Saturday in St James’s Palace at the conclusion of the Accession Council.
This has been followed by local proclamations all over the country today (September 11).
One visitor to the ceremony in Reading, Richard Thomas, said: “It’s been very moving. We go to Life Spring Church down the Oxford Road and we had a special tribute there which was nice and we were remembering the Queens faith and her life of service which was very touching.
“We’re sad but hopeful for the future with the new King.
“The life of service beyond retirement age, like the Queen, just carrying on and they don’t retire and that’s something amazing that he’s saying: For the rest of his life as long as he’s fit, he will carry on.”
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