Australia and New Zealand have held proclamation ceremonies for the new head of state King Charles III, with New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern saying she expected her country’s relationship with the royal family to “deepen”, and Australia declaring a one-off public holiday as a national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II.
New Zealand held its formal ceremony on parliament’s grounds, with the proceedings led by governer general Cindy Kiro and Ardern, beginning with the national anthem and a prayer in te reo Māori – the Indigenous language.
Ardern said she believed New Zealand’s close connection to the royal family would continue and strengthen under the new monarch.
“King Charles has long had an affection for Aotearoa New Zealand and has consistently demonstrated his deep care for our nation. This relationship is deeply valued by our people. I have no doubt it will deepen,” she said.
She paid tribute to the Queen’s “unwavering duty” at the country’s ceremony to recognise King Charles III as head of state.
“Upon her death we enter a time of change – one filled with sadness for her passing, but also gratitude for the life she led, and the example she set. We are forever grateful for her close bond to our country, but it’s a bond and affection that spans across her entire family,” she said.
Australia also officially recognised King Charles as the country’s new sovereign, with the governor general and executive council making their public proclamation at Parliament House, followed by a 21-gun salute.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese said there had been “an outpouring of grief” after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. “In Queen Elizabeth’s own words, that grief is the price we pay for love, is I think a fitting statement on how so many Australians are feeling at this time,” he said.
“Today, we mark formally the new head of state in King Charles III and the proclamation – the first in my lifetime and the first in a majority of Australians’ lifetime – is an historic event.”
Earlier on Sunday he declared 22 September as a one off public holiday as the national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II and that Australia had offered to fly 10 of its Pacific Island counterparts and New Zealand dignitaries to Britain for the queen’s funeral.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand has not yet announced a public holiday to mark the Queen’s passing. A New Zealand government spokesperson said the cabinet would consider options for a memorial service and public holiday at its meeting on Monday.