PEI

P.E.I. lieutenant-governor proclaims accession of Charles as King of Canada

King Charles's accession to the throne was formally proclaimed at a ceremony in Charlottetown Monday, followed by a 21-gun salute.

Ceremony took place Monday at 10:45 a.m. AT, followed by a 21-gun salute

King Charles delivers an address to the nation and the Commonwealth in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth. (Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

A 21-gun salute was fired at Victoria Park in Charlottetown on Monday morning in honour of King Charles.

Members of the Prince Edward Island Regiment fired using blanks, with puffs of smoke accompanying each report.

The salute came after a formal proclamation of Charles' accession to the throne was made at Government House by Lt.-Gov. Antoinette Perry.

Members of the P.E.I. government, Mi'kmaw chiefs and other senior officials were in attendance.

Cannon expels white smoke cloud after soldiers fired it as part of a 21-gun salute.
Members of the Prince Edward Island Regiment executed a 21-gun salute at Victoria Park on Monday, with puffs of smoke accompanying each report. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)

This ceremony followed a tradition dating back to the accession of King George III in 1760. The King's Privy Council for Canada in Ottawa held a similar event, as did Perry's counterparts in other provinces.

The Prince Edward Island Regiment is an army reserve unit based in Charlottetown and Summerside, whose lineage dates back to 1875.

Queen Elizabeth died Thursday at the age of 96 after ruling for more than 70 years.

Historic Fanningbank, the residence of Lt.-Gov. Antoinette Perry, will be lit up in blue after dark as a sign of mourning for Queen Elizabeth. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)

As a sign of mourning, historic Fanningbank, the residence of P.E.I.'s lieutenant-governor, will be lit up in blue from dusk till dawn until Sept. 19.

That is the day of the Queen's funeral, after her coffin lies in state for public viewing at the Houses of Parliament Palace for six days. 

Prince Edward Islanders can pay tribute to the Queen by signing the books of condolence at Government House, the legislative assembly, or at provincial libraries in Souris, Montague, Summerside and Tignish.