Alberta legislature marks the accession of King Charles III
Premier Jason Kenney appeared to hold back tears as he delivered a eulogy for the late Queen Elizabeth II at a special session of the legislature on Thursday afternoon.
The 17-minute speech was likely Kenney's last from inside the legislature as premier and followed the presentation of a motion celebrating the queen's life and offering condolences to the Royal Family.
“We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the legislative assembly, now assembled, wish to express the deep sympathy felt by this assembly for the great sorrow which Your Majesty has sustained by the death of the late queen,” the motion, addressing King Charles III, read.
The queen's portrait remained in the chamber, draped in black cloth. Legislative staff and most elected members wore black.
Kenney said the monarch's death affected him personally, calling the queen “a constant and reassuring presence” who had served for 70 of Alberta's 117 years in existence.
“Her death has hit me harder than expected,” he said. “(It's) as though I lost a grandmother or longtime friend.”
Opposition Leader Rachel Notley also addressed the legislature, hailing the queen as “the strongest example of a woman leader to a generation of women who didn't really have much else to look for in the way of female western democratic leaders at the time.”
Earlier Thursday, cabinet members along with ken ne ya nd lt.-gov. Salma Lakhani held a short ceremony at Government House.
The lieutenant-governor, premier and Justice Minister Tyler Shandro all signed a proclamation of accession that was later read out by Lakhani.
“We proclaim that His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the death of our late sovereign, Charles III ... of the United Kingdom, Canada and his other realms and territories,” she read. The ceremony ended with a rendition of God Save the King and formally affirmed the accession of King Charles III following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8.
Her death has hit me harder than expected. (It's) as though I lost a grandmother or longtime friend.
Also Thursday, the province announced the Federal Building, located on the northeast corner of the legislative grounds, will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Building in a ceremony planned for Sept. 27.
“May generations of future legislators and public servants who work for Albertans in the Federal Building be reminded of and inspired by her noble example of public service,” Kenney said in a news release.