Local authorities across the country have welcomed the accession of King Charles III after the death last week of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The accession council met at St James’s Palace on Saturday to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign. The devolved nations and local authorities followed with proclamations the next day.

Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr Donna Ludford welcomed the beginning of the reign of King Charles III following the Greater Manchester proclamation in St Peter's Square, Manchester.

She said: ‘It has been an honour to be part of the Greater Manchester proclamation marking this historical moment and the beginning of King Charles III's reign.

‘This week we have mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II who has presided over our country for 70 years. She is the only monarch most of our residents have ever known - a beacon of strength and consistency for our people, and a much-respected figure across the world.

‘As we continue reflect on the Queen's passing, we now welcome a new era for our royal family and our nation.’

Hundreds of people also gathered in Bath yesterday to witness the local proclamation of King Charles III.

Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council Cllr Shaun Stephenson-McGall said: ‘Here in Bath & North East Somerset we held Her Majesty in great esteem and it was our immense good fortune to be visited by her a number of times - including for her silver jubilee year in 1977 and for her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

‘Many people will have personal memories of those visits and we give thanks for all she did for our country during her long and illustrious reign.

‘But the basis on which our monarchy is built has ensured that through the centuries the Crown has passed in an unbroken line of succession. Today’s ceremony marks the formal Proclamation to the people of the Bath & North East Somerset of the beginning of our new King’s reign.’

A number of town and parish councils across the East Riding marked the accession to the throne of HIs Majesty King Charles III with their own proclamation events on Sunday.

Around 400 people also gathered in Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon to witness the reading of the Proclamation.