Premier Mark McGowan has today held a special meeting of the Executive Council at Government House as part of the proceedings to proclaim the Sovereign.
The WA Governor His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson APM and the Premier signed the Proclamation, and the Governor has read out the Proclamation which will now be gazetted into law.
These formal proceedings are to recognise the new Sovereign within WA’s legal framework.
The last time this took place was when the late Queen ascended to the throne just over 70 years ago in 1952.
While flags across the State have been flown at half-mast since the Queen’s passing, they will be flown at full mast following the Proclamation until sunset today.
It is customary to fly the flag at half-mast from the time of the announcement of the death of the Sovereign until the day after the funeral, except on the day the accession of the new Sovereign is proclaimed.
The eldest son of The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, His Majesty King Charles III was born on November 14, 1948, and became the heir apparent at the age of three when his mother ascended the throne.
The Queen created him The Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester at age nine. He was formally invested as Prince of Wales by The Queen on July 1, 1969.
His Majesty trained as a jet pilot and later embarked on a naval career. He also trained as a helicopter pilot.
His Majesty King Charles III has visited WA on six occasions – in 1977, 1979, 1983, 1994, 2005 and 2015.
The 2015 visit was the first time Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, as they were known at the time, had ever visited WA together.
During the visit, Western Australians helped celebrate His Royal Highness’ 67th birthday with a beachside barbecue at the Cottesloe Civic Centre.
In March 1979, the Prince travelled extensively through the northern region of the State and famously had a swim at North Cottesloe.
Notably in 1994 the Prince visited Perth and Karratha and in March 2005 he visited Royal Perth Hospital to meet with those involved in the Bali Bombings and Tsunami tragedy.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“While the period of mourning continues, today we have proclaimed the new Sovereign, His Majesty King Charles III.
“I have every confidence he will fulfil his duty to our State, Australia and the Commonwealth with dignity and valour in the years ahead, and he will model the same qualities of leadership that Australians have respected in the late Queen.
“It’s the late Queen’s stoicism and moralism that have fuelled the remarkable response from the public, as evidenced in the public tributes being paid to her.
“Vale Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
