The news of the accession of King Charles III to the throne was announced by the town mayor Tina Foster at Swanage Bandstand, followed by three cheers for the King and the first verse of the UK National Anthem.
With social media and 24 hour TV channels, the news of the death of the Queen and the accession of the new King was instantly available, but the tradition of reading out the proclamation was continued to enable communities to come together to mark the occasion.
The proclamation was held at Swanage Bandstand
The town gathered to hear the news
On the afternoon of Sunday 11th September at Swanage Bandstand the town gathered to hear the news in person.
Also attending were visitors in town for the Swanage Folk Festival, which had paused its performances while the ceremony took place.
Swanage Mayor Tina Foster (centre) read out the proclamation, assisted by Swanage Deputy Mayor Chris Moreton (left) and Swanage Town Clerk Martin Ayres (right)
Read out across the nation
The initial proclamation of the accession took place the day before at St James’s Palace in London at 10 am on Saturday 10th September 2022, where it was then decreed that it should be read out in all the cities, towns and parishes across the UK.
In Dorset on Sunday 11th September 2022, the proclamation was read out by the High Sheriff of Dorset on the steps of County Hall in Dorchester at 1 pm and then by Wareham Town Mayor Malcolm Russell at Wareham Town Hall at 3 pm.
The proclamation was read out at County Hall in Dorchester by the High Sheriff of Dorset (centre)
Arrived by email rather than horseback
In Swanage, the proclamation, although having arrived by email rather than a messenger on horseback, was read out at 4 pm.
Swanage Town Mayor Tina Foster led the proceedings and read out the proclamation to the assembled crowd on the bright and sunny afternoon.
She then called for three cheers for the King, which was followed by a rousing first verse of the National Anthem.
A floral wreath was laid at the bandstand by deputy mayor Chris Moreton (left) and mayor Tina Foster (right) to pay the town council’s respects to the Queen
Flags were temporarily raised
In accordance with protocol to mark this occasion, flags that had been at half-mast were raised while the proclamation was read throughout the UK.
They were then lowered again and will stay at half-mast until 8 am on Tuesday 20th September 2022 – the morning after the state funeral of the Queen.
Many people brought floral tributes to honour the Queen
Flower tributes
Flowers were laid at Swanage Bandstand as a mark of respect for the Queen, including a wreath from Swanage Town Council. They will stay there until after the funeral.
Flowers may also be left at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pond at Herston Halt station near Swanage.
Flowers at the jubilee pond at Herston Halt station on the Swanage Railway line
