Following his accession to the British throne, Charles III was officially proclaimed as the King of New Zealand in a ceremony held at the forecourt of Parliament in Wellington on Sunday.
The proceedings kicked off with the New Zealand national anthem sung in Maori and English, which was followed by a prayer delivered by a Maori elder.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern then addressed the public thronging the Parliament grounds.
Flanked by ministers, members of Parliament, judges and others, Ardern declared: “Today, we mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledge her son, His Majesty King Charles III as our sovereign.”
Ardern said Queen Elizabeth had served the people of Aotearoa New Zealand with “unwavering duty” during her 70-year reign.
She said Queen Elizabeth was the only monarch the vast majority of New Zealanders had known and that, following her passing, “we enter a time of change.”
“We are forever grateful for her close bond to our country, but it’s a bond and affection that spans across her entire family,” Ardern noted.
Referring to King Charles, Ardern spoke of his affection for New Zealand and his “deep care for our nation.”
Ardern concluded her address by saying: “And so as one chapter closes, another begins.”
Dame Cindy Kiro, the Governor-General of New Zealand, then addressed the crowd.
She described Queen Elizabeth as a pillar of true dignity and strength.
“With this ceremony and with the flags of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau at full mast, we duly acknowledge the accession of our new king, His Majesty King Charles III,” she said.
“As Governor-General, it would be my honour to serve as His Majesty’s representative here in Aotearoa New Zealand,” she added.
Next up, the official proclamation by the Governor-General was read out.
The proclamation said: “Whereas by the death of our late beloved Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II, the Crown is solely and rightfully come to His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George.”
The proclamation went on to say : “We , therefore, the Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor- General of New Zealand, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and members of the Executive Council, assisted by members of Parliament, Judges, Representatives of the Realm, and numerous other representative citizens here present, hereby proclaim that his Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now King Charles III, By the Grace of King of New Zealand and of His Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom His subjects swear their faith and true allegiance, with hearty affection; wishing His Majesty King Charles III a long and happy reign.
“Given under the hand of Her Excellency the Governor-General, and issued under the Seal of New Zealand, this 11th day of September 2022.
“God save the King!”
The ceremony closed with the national anthem of Britain, after which the dignitaries made their way back up the steps of Parliament.
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