Charles III has been proclaimed as the UK king at a ceremony at St James' Palace, BBC News reported.

Charles became king immediately following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, but a historic meeting formally confirmed his role on Saturday morning.

The Accession Council, made up of senior politicians, judges and officials, proclaimed him as the monarch in the State Apartments.

It is the first time the historic ceremony has been televised.

The King himself was not present to begin with, but he attended the second part of the ceremony to hold his first meeting of the Privy Council, the group of senior politicians who advise the monarch.

Clerk of the Privy Council Richard Tilbrook proclaimed Charles "King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith," before declaring "God Save the King."

The packed room included the Queen Consort, the Prince of Wales, and Prime Minister Liz Truss.

The ceremony was attended by 200 members of the Privy Council. They included former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, and John Major.

Making his own declaration, the King said it was his "most sorrowful duty" to announce to the death of his mother.

He said: "I know how deeply you, the entire nation, and I think I may say the whole world, sympathize with me in the irreparable loss we've all suffered. It is the greatest consolation to me to know the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and brothers."