Watch: hundreds in attendance as convener reads proclamation of king

A LARGE crowd gathered outside Lerwick Town Hall on Sunday afternoon to hear the proclamation of King Charles III’s accession to the throne.

The public message was read out in front of several hundreds by Shetland Islands Council convener Andrea Manson, who was joined by lord lieutenant Bobby Hunter.

Charles was confirmed as king at a ceremony in London on Saturday, but proclamations are being held across the country.

It comes after the Queen died peacefully aged 96 on Thursday.

Having reigned for 70 years, Sunday’s event at the Town Hall steps was for many people in attendance their first chance to witness a proclamation of its kind.

SIC convener Andrea Manson. Photo: SIC

SIC convener Andrea Manson. Photo: SIC

Speaking after the event, Manson said: “It was a huge honour. It’s tinged with sadness, because the Queen is no longer the Queen…but it’s an incredible honour to be asked to do something like that.

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“It’s not something you expect to do.”

One of those in attendance was Sir John Scott, a former lord lieutenant of Shetland who was knighted by the Queen in 2011 in Buckingham Palace.

He said he met her a few times. “She always had that personal touch,” Scott said.

“When she tapped me on the shoulder with her sword, she said “is it snowing in Shetland?”

“She had that ability to have that suitable word for everyone she met, and I think it was a great gift.

“You don’t forgot something like that, and I think she is someone who I will always remember.”

At the reading Manson and Hunter were flanked by Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart as well as representatives from organisations including from the council and the Church of Scotland.

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From left to right: Church of Scotland’s Rev Dr Fran Henderson, Lieutenant Cadet Scott Aitken, SIC development director Neil Grant, SIC depute leader Bryan Peterson, lord lieutenant Bobby Hunter, SIC convener Andrea Manson, Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart, Police Scotland’s Colin Crawford. Photo: SIC

From left to right: Church of Scotland’s Rev Dr Fran Henderson, Lieutenant Cadet Scott Aitken, SIC development director Neil Grant, SIC depute leader Bryan Peterson, lord lieutenant Bobby Hunter, SIC convener Andrea Manson, Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart, Police Scotland’s Colin Crawford. Photo: SIC