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Sunday 11 September 2022
 Crowds gathered at County Hall as our new King is proclaimed
Crowds gathered in the grounds of County Hall in Exeter today, including scores of invited dignitaries, to hear the High Sheriff of Devon, Richard Youngman, officially read the Proclamation confirming King Charles III as our monarch.
The proclamation to the nation began first from St James's Palace, Westminster, yesterday, before being announced in counties and districts across the United Kingdom today and tomorrow.
The ceremony at County Hall is the first of the proclamations to be read in Devon.
With full ceremony, heralded by a bugler's fanfare and welcome from the King's representative David Fursdon, Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, the High Sheriff read the Privy Council's proclamation as all those present looked on.
Many more watched the ceremony online, via a live-stream. If you missed it, you can catch up via this link (fast-forward to 8 minutes 15 seconds).
Cllr Ian Hall, our Chairman, said:
"The Proclamation of a new Monarch is something most of us will never have seen before, and it has truly been my honour and privilege to have witnessed our County proclamation at first hand.
"I am sure you will join me in offering His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen Consort our good wishes for the future as they undertake their new roles.”
You can read more about the ceremony in the news story on our website.
A steady stream of individuals and families have been signing the Book of Condolence at County Hall in Exeter, since it opened on Friday (9 September).
Paused this afternoon to allow for the proclamation of our new Monarch, the Book of Condolence will be open again from tomorrow (Monday) morning, at 9am.
The Book of Condolence at County Hall will remain open to the public everyday from 9am until 5pm until Sunday 18 September.
The book will be closed on Monday 19 September, to mark the day of the state funeral, and will reopen for a further day on Tuesday 20 September.
Devon's district councils also have Books of Condolence for people to leave written tributes to Her late Majesty. The opening times and locations for those Books of Condolence are available on the individual council websites.
More information is available on our website.
 Bank holiday announced for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral
The government has announced that Monday 19 September, the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral, will be a national bank holiday.
This will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, if they wish to, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.
Please visit the government's website for more information.
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