Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, questions about Prince Charles’ status and the monarchy’s future arose.
Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, after months of health concerns. To deliver the news, Prince Charles issued a statement in which he was referred to as His Majesty The King.
Kate Williams, author of “Young Elizabeth: The Making of the Queen,” recently stated that Prince Charles has yet to be referred to as King because the coronation takes another year.
She explained to PEOPLE:
“The coronation ceremony usually takes a year because it’s seen as unseemly, really, to have a coronation ceremony straight after someone’s death. It’s a long period of mourning.”
On the other hand, Politico stated that he would take an oath the day after the Queen died.
The coronation date will be set in the coming months – or a year – as Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in June 1953, more than a year after her father’s death.
However, once the proclamation is issued, Prince Charles will be crowned King, and Camilla will be named Queen Consort, as Her Majesty had requested.
Even though he will not be able to wear a crown until his coronation, Clarence House has already confirmed that his official title will be King Charles III.
Prince William can’t take the throne instead because they must follow the formal accession to the throne procedure.
With Prince Charles, now known as King Charles III, his son Prince William ascended to the throne as the first reserve, followed by his children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince Harry resigned from his senior royal position and is still fifth in line to the throne.
The Associated Press recently detailed the coronation process.
Once the Accession Council meets, Prince Charles, now King Charles III, will be proclaimed the new sovereign. The Privy Council and Church of England leaders are expected to initiate the process.
Before the public announcement of his succession, Charles III will take an oath. The coronation will most likely take place at Westminster Abbey.
Meanwhile, his wife, Camilla, will be known as Camilla, Queen Consort. During Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, she backed Camilla and announced that she would be known as Queen Consort while serving King Charles III.