King Charles III has been officially proclaimed as Australia’s new sovereign during a ceremony at Parliament House.
The proclamation announcing the monarch’s accession following the death of Queen Elizabeth was read out by Governor-General David Hurley.
Australia’s Executive Council, which formally advises the governor-general, earlier met in Canberra to recommend the proclamation.
The governor-general said the council had a weighty responsibility.
“Australia is an unfinished product. It is now entering a new era,” Mr Hurley said ahead of the meeting.
“Most Australians have not known a world without Queen Elizabeth II, her passing is the end of an era.”
The ceremony began with a procession of the Australian Defence Force followed by a welcome to country.
Following the proclamation, God Save the King was played, with flags raised to full mast.
They will be returned to half mast at dusk until the day after the funeral for the late monarch, which is scheduled for September 19.
An Indigenous spiritual dance preceded a 21-gun salute, which rang out across the capital.
MPs and senators from across the political divide watched the proceedings, while large crowds also gathered outside Parliament House to witness the proclamation, with some attendees waiting for more than an hour.
State proclamation ceremonies will take place across the country following the event in Canberra.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there had been an outpouring of grief following the Queen’s death.
“Queen Elizabeth was admired for her devotion to duty, for her commitment to the people of the United Kingdom, to the people of the Commonwealth including Australia and indeed to the world,” he said.
“Today, we mark formally the new head of state in King Charles III and in the proclamation, the first in my lifetime and the first in a majority of Australians’ lifetime, is an historic event.”
Mr Albanese also confirmed Australians would have a national public holiday to mourn the Queen on September 22, three days after the royal funeral in London.
He said he had already spoken to all premiers and chief ministers about plans for the day of commemoration.
A service will take place in the Great Hall at Parliament House and will be attended by the governor-general and prime minister, as well as premiers and chief ministers.
“I encourage all Australians, wherever you may be, to take time to pause and reflect on Her Majesty’s extraordinary life of service,” Mr Albanese said.
The prime minister and Mr Hurley will travel to London on Thursday to attend the funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Before then, the Queen’s coffin will be driven from Balmoral Castle to Scotland’s capital Edinburgh and be flown to London later in the week.
It will remain at Buckingham Palace before being taken to Westminster Hall to lie in state for four days, allowing the public to pay their respects.
Mr Albanese said assistance has been given to representatives from 10 Pacific island nations that have connections with the Commonwealth to travel to London for the funeral.
Federal parliament, which was due to sit this week in Canberra, has been suspended following the death of the Queen.
The prime minister said the government would look to make up the days following the period of mourning and one of those days would be devoted to condolences for the Queen.
Since the Queen’s death, more than 13,700 condolences have been made online on government websites, while many more people have left floral and other tributes at government houses in Canberra and state capitals.
By Andrew Brown in Canberra
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