HAMPSHIRE residents have been invited to a public event held in Winchester on Sunday, September 11 following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The event is to celebrate the life of Her Majesty The Queen, and to formally announce the beginning of the reign of King Charles III.

The event will be held outside the Great Hall at 1pm.  

The Proclamation will be read by the High Sheriff of Hampshire. It will also be broadcast via live webcast on the Hampshire County Council YouTube channel. 

District and Borough councils will hold separate public Proclamation events from 2pm on the same day. Information on these events will be provided directly by local councils.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq, said: “The local reading of the Proclamation is an historic moment which enables all parts of the country to join together and share in the official declaration of our new Sovereign, King Charles III.

“At the same time, we will also be united in our grief for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who will be forever remembered with affection and appreciation for the lifetime of service she has given to our nation, and her influence on so many aspects of our lives. We look back with gratitude for her extraordinarily long reign and the outstanding example of dedication and duty that Her Majesty displayed throughout the decades. All members of the Royal Family are in our thoughts and prayers at this very sad time, but in particular, King Charles III to whom we will shortly pledge our support, allegiance and loyalty.” 

Books of Condolence now open 

Meanwhile, a Book of Condolence has been opened by Hampshire County Council at the Great Hall in Winchester today, offering residents the opportunity to add their thoughts and memories of our late Queen, together with messages of sympathy to the Royal Family.  

A Book of Condolence is also open at Winchester Cathedral. 

Messages of sympathy may also be posted on the virtual Book of Condolence, available on the Royal website (www.royal.uk) 

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Rob Humby, said: “At such a sad and poignant time in our nation’s history, these books will provide many people with the opportunity to come together and share their recollections of Her Majesty, unite in grief and mourn the loss of our much loved and respected Queen Elizabeth II. As our longest-reigning Monarch, Her Majesty has been the only British Monarch most of us have ever known.” 

Since news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, flags have been lowered to half-mast at Hampshire County Council’s headquarters buildings in Winchester, and a number of public meetings and engagements have been postponed, as a mark of respect. Full details of which public meetings have been affected can be found on the County Council’s Calendar of Meetings webpages

Flowers were laid outside at Winchester’s Great Hall earlier today, by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, the High Sheriff of Hampshire, and the Chairman of Hampshire County Council, and County Council Leader. 

Letters of condolence from HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq, and from the Hampshire County Council Chairman, Councillor Marge Harvey; Leader, Councillor Rob Humby; and Chief Executive, Mrs Carolyn Williamson will also be sent to the Royal Family, offering Hampshire’s deepest sympathies.