Key British institutions will reaffirm their loyalty to King Charles III at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace as part of a 17th century tradition to mark his reign.
A group of 27 organisations and corporations that are “privileged bodies” will present addresses of loyalty to the sovereign in person in the ballroom of the historic royal residence on Thursday.
The privileged bodies are “culturally significant organisations and institutions that reflect the United Kingdom’s diverse society”, Buckingham Palace said.
Drawn from the education, science, arts and religious sectors, those invited include the General Synod of the Church of England; the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and London, St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen; the Bank of England; the City of London Corporation; the Royal Society; the Royal Academy of Arts; the Military Knights of Windsor and the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The loyal addresses — which will take the form of a speech — serve to “emphasise and reaffirm their loyalty to the monarch”, the palace said.
King Charles will deliver a response at the end.
Syrians affected by earthquake meet King Charles at Trafalgar Square — in pictures
-
King Charles III is presented with a White Helmet from the Syria Civil Defence organisation as he talks with members of the Syrian diaspora in Trafalgar Square, London. AP -
The king was launching Syria's House, a temporary community tent where members of the Syrian community can gather to support those affected by the earthquake. AFP -
King Charles is greeted by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as he arrives in Trafalgar Square. Reuters -
King Charles takes a sip of Syrian tea as he talks with members of the Syrian community. AP -
The king meets members of the public. Reuters -
He is given a rose for Valentine's Day. AFP
According to the Royal Encyclopaedia, a certain number of bodies enjoy the prescriptive right of presenting addresses to the sovereign seated on the throne and “of receiving a reply from the sovereign’s lips”.
In centuries past, this important function allowed the groups to publicly declare their loyalty to the crown and have the “ear” of the monarch, while also allowing the king or queen to hear grassroots opinions.
The long-held custom takes place to mark significant royal occasions and the event is in recognition of King Charles’s accession to the throne.
UK's King Charles hosts Buckingham Palace reception to celebrate Asian communities — in pictures
-
Actor Will Sharpe meets King Charles at the Buckingham Palace reception. Reuters -
King Charles meets Oliver Kendal and Joshua Carrot, also known as YouTubers the Korean Englishmen, at the reception. Reuters -
King Charles meets Enkhjargal Danzanbaljir, president of the Association for the Development of Mongolian Women in Europe, at a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the king and Queen Consort Camilla to celebrate the contribution to Britain by East and South-East Asian communities, on February 1. Reuters -
Dashzeveg Tserenbat meets King Charles at the reception. Reuters -
King Charles with representatives of Britain's East and South-East Asian communities at Buckingham Palace. Reuters -
Queen Consort Camilla greets a guest at the reception. AP -
Princess Royal Anne also greeted guests at the reception on February 1. PA -
Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, at the reception. PA -
King Charles hosts members of Britain's East and South-East Asian communities. PA -
Queen Consort Camilla poses with two guests at the reception. PA -
Queen Consort Camilla with a guest. PA -
Queen Consort Camilla with women from Britain's East and South-East Asian communities at Buckingham Palace. PA -
Queen Consort Camilla with women from Britain's East and South-East Asian communities at Buckingham Palace. PA -
Queen Consort Camilla with women from Britain's East and South-East Asian communities at Buckingham Palace. PA -
King Charles with Will Sharpe. AP -
Princess Royal Anne and Prince Edward chat at the reception. AP -
King Charles shares a joke with guests at the Buckingham Palace reception. AP -
King Charles meets TV presenter and fashion designer Alexa Chung, and Dominic Chung, at the reception. AP -
Queen Consort Camilla chats with reception guests. PA -
King Charles meets fashion designer John Rocha at Buckingham Palace. PA
The late queen received the privileged bodies on five occasions during her reign, including for her accession in 1952.
The last time the ceremony took place was to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee in 2012, when Boris Johnson — then the London mayor — took the opportunity to present her with a commemorative Oyster travel card.
