Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne is now the King, after the death of Queen Elizabeth Thursday evening.
The Queen died at 96.
The throne passed immediately and without ceremony to the heir, Charles, the former Prince of Wales.
One of his first acts is to decide whether to reign as King Charles III or take another name.
There will also be a new title for Charles’ wife, whose full title will be Queen Consort – consort is the term used for the monarch’s spouse.
In the first 24 hours after his mother’s death, Charles will be officially proclaimed King. This happens at St James’s Palace in London, in front of a ceremonial body known as the Accession Council, according to BBC.
This comprises members of the Privy Council – a group of senior MPs, past and present, and peers – as well as some senior civil servants, Commonwealth high commissioners, and the Lord Mayor of London.
More than 700 people are entitled, in theory, to attend, but given the short notice, the actual number is likely to be far fewer.
At the last Accession Council in 1952, about 200 attended.
The King does not traditionally attend.
At the meeting, the death of Queen Elizabeth will be announced by the Lord President of the Privy Council (currently Penny Mordaunt MP), and a proclamation will be read aloud.
