Hundreds gather to hear local Proclamation

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Hundreds of people gathered in the Italian Gardens in Weston-super-Mare yesterday (Sunday 11 September) to hear the local Proclamation on the accession of the new Sovereign, King Charles III.
 

This local event, which was led by North Somerset Council chairperson Cllr Karin Haverson, is the formal Proclamation to the people of North Somerset of the beginning of the new King’s reign. 

During the event Cllr Haverson paid tribute to Her Majesty: "We come together this afternoon following the passing of our late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth the Second. Our sadness at this time is shared by people across the globe, as we remember with gratitude and great affection the lifetime of service given by our longest reigning monarch, and we give thanks for all she did for our country during her long and illustrious reign.

"Here in North Somerset we held Her Majesty in great esteem and it was our immense fortune to be visited by her several times - including in her silver jubilee year in 1977 and most recently in 2007.

"Many people will have personal memories of those visits, which will stay with them for a very long time."

The event was attended by many local dignitaries including the MPs for Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset, North Somerset councillors, town and parish council chairmen, the Somerset Lieutenancy, and representatives from the police and fire services.

The Proclamation of the new Sovereign is a very old tradition which goes back centuries. The ceremony doesn't create a new king, it's simply an announcement of the accession which took place when Her Majesty The Queen died.

The local ceremony provided an opportunity for the community to come together and reflect on the moment in the nation’s history when the reign of the longest-serving Monarch came to an end and the new Sovereign succeeded.

The full ceremony can be viewed on the council's YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/m9X4NPo8Img

Books of Condolence will remain open at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare and at Castlewood in Clevedon throughout the period of national mourning.  People can record their tributes in the books between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 

In addition to these, town and parish councils in our area are also providing their own Books of Condolence, and have designated areas where floral tributes may be laid. Information about the locations available can be found on the council's website at: https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/paying-tribute-her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii

If you are leaving a floral tribute at the Italian Gardens in Weston-super-Mare please remove all cellophane, ribbons and wire. This is so we can compost the tributes and plant a tree in memory of The Queen.

An electronic Book of Condolence is also available on the Royal Family website.