The accession of King Charles III was proclaimed yesterday morning at Front Street by Rena Lalgie, the Governor, in a ceremony watched by legislators and a hushed crowd of spectators.

A 21-gun salute thundered over Hamilton Harbour to mark the closing of the proclamation shortly after 9am, which follows the formal proclaiming of the King at a ceremony yesterday at St James’s Palace in London.

Flanked by police motorcycles, the Governor’s car drew up at the podium of MPs and other guests at the flagpole on Front Street after the Royal Bermuda Regiment marched into formation.

Ms Lalgie opened the proclamation with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday.

As commander-in-chief in Bermuda, Ms Lalgie “hereby with one voice and with consent of tongue and heart” proclaimed Prince Charles Philip Arthur George the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

He was also proclaimed “head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith”.

A crowd of about 200 spectators gathered early this morning to witness a ceremony not viewed in decades — with many people unsure of how the event would unfold.

Among guests at the podium was Sir John Swan, the former premier, who remembered seeing the newly crowned Queen on her 1953 visit to Bermuda with her husband, Prince Philip.

“She came to the throne the year that I was 17, and she passed the year I became 87,” Sir John said.

“When you look around the world today at the leaders who have emerged, I do not think you can find one that has been so profound, so dignified and so generous with her time.”

He said he hoped King Charles III would “exemplify what his mother stood for”.

Sir John added: “I commend the Governor, who read the proclamation in a very dignified and forthright way.

“It bodes well for Bermuda. We as a colony will adhere to the principles of good governance. We will look to the King to pay us a visit and walk in Bermuda in the footprints of his mother. We stand ready to greet him, whenever he is ready.”

Sharon Riviere, 77, watched the ceremony from the corner with Burnaby Street where the Regiment band played God Save the King.

Ms Riviere also remembered the 1953 royal visit.

“I was eight years old, and my mother, sister and I were standing in front of Parliament before Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

“Ever since then I have followed the Royal Family. Now, at 77, she will not be my Queen, but the monarchy will be part of my heart.”