South Hams formally proclaims new king

"God save the king!"

South Hams District Council has joined with other Devon local authorities in an official proclamation of the new King.

At Follaton House, Totnes on Monday morning, vice chairman of the council and Conservative councillor for Charterlands, Bernard Taylor, read the formal wording in front of over a hundred guests and visitors. 

A proclamation for West Devon Borough Council took place at the same time in Tavistock.

Following the proclamation in South Hams, all those attending were encouraged to give three cheers for King Charles III and sing the national anthem.  

The union flag at Follaton House which was flying at half-mast was raised to full mast to coincide with the proclamation.

It has now been lowered again to half-mast until after the Queen’s state funeral.

Speaking after the ceremony, Cllr Taylor explained the tradition of the proclamation.

“The king was put in place immediately on the Queen’s death,” he explained.

“And this is an old tradition that was set up to pass the news of the new monarchy around the areas before modern technology. 

“At the moment it is a duty really as much as anything else, to be perfectly honest because there’s no need because it’s already out there, but it’s still going to go on.

“And I like tradition and I hope it stays with us for a long time.”

Cllr Taylor said the death of the queen comes as a huge surprise.

“Everybody’s in a state of shock, basically, because only last Tuesday, she was actually introducing the new prime minister. And then suddenly on Thursday, we heard when we were in the chamber that everybody was travelling to Balmoral. 

“And we knew that then it was probably coming near the end and everybody was in a state of shock as much as anything else, to be honest, and sadness.”

And he said he had great hopes for King Charles III.

“Oh, I’ve got every confidence in the new king, to be honest. I think he’ll do a good job. 

“He’s going to follow on because he’s had all these years of training, and I’m sure that he’ll follow on in the Queen’s footsteps.”

Chief executive of both South Hams and West Devon councils, Andy Bates, said it was good to see mayors and clerks of town councils in South Hams at the event.

“On Thursday we were here late in the evening planning,” he explained.

“We, of course, had plans in hand and ready to go. And on Thursday, my team and I were there until I think about 8.30 a.m. 

“I went home afterwards and I watched the coverage on the news and then the wonderful documentary about the queen’s life. And I have to say, it was a moment of great sadness … sadness and poignancy. 

“We had in the queen somebody who’d given their whole life in public service and – as the chief executive of South Hams and West Devon Borough Councils – what an example to all of us as public servants, I can think of no better lesson in how to do one’s job frankly.”

Mr Bates added to comments by Cllr Taylor about his confidence in King Charles III as the new monarch.

“I thought his address to the nation was spectacularly good. I think he is clear in his intent to follow in his mother’s lead in terms of public service. 

“I think he will make a good monarch and it’s important for us as a country that we have that continuity. I think he’s made very clear his intention to follow in his mother’s footsteps in the way he acts as monarch.”

The District council will continue to make proclamations followed by town councils across Devon.