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William & Harry Seen Together For First Time Since June; Queen's Casket To Depart Balmoral In About Two Hours; Ukrainian Troops Enter Izium As Russian Forces Retreat; King Charles III Named Sovereign In Somber Ceremony; Canada Proclaims King Charles III As New Head Of State; Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral Set For September 19. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired September 11, 2022 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:30]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers around the world. I'm Becky Anderson. Outside Buckingham Palace in London, it's 8:00 in the morning here. And in just about two hours, we expect Queen Elizabeth's casket to begin making its way from her country home at Balmoral Castle in Scotland to Edinburgh. The journey will mark the first leg of what will be an eventful week that will culminate with her funeral in London on September the 19th. Following the service at Westminster Abbey, she'll be interred at Windsor Castle.

Well, trumpet fanfare on Saturday heralded King Charles III as sovereign of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth even though Charles automatically became King upon his mother's death, the title was officially bestowed in an accession ceremony at St. James's Palace. Well, here's the principal proclamation as it was read out to the public.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID WHITE, GARTER KING OF ARMS: With one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the Prince Charles, Philip, Arthur, George, is now by the death of our late sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful leads Lord, Charles III. By the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, and of his other realms and territories, King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith, to whom we do acknowledge old faith and obedience with humble affection.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, as part of that accession ceremony, the new king then put his signature to the formal proclamation, it was also signed by the Prince of Wales and the Queen Consort. Well, Queen's death may help close a rift between the new Prince of Wales and his brother, the Duke of Sussex Princes William and Harry were joined by their wives on Saturday as they greeted crowds outside Windsor Castle. CNN's Scott McLean has the details. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the gates of Windsor Castle opens, Saturday, Prince William and Harry walked out side by side, the Queen's death reuniting the brothers publicly for the first time since June. It was also the first time crowds got to see Kate and her new title as Princess of Wales.

CATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES: I'm going to blush.

MCLEAN (voice-over): The couple's made their way down long rows of people paying tribute to the Queen, young people sharing cards and toys, people of all ages pushing flowers into their arms, even pets got the royal treatment. Fourteen-year-old Amelka Zak was particularly moved to meet Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

AMELKA ZAK, HUGGED MEGHAN, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: May I hug you?

It was just quite an amazing moment. I'm still shaking now. It was quite nice to see William and Kate and Meghan and Harry together, and it was fun, but, yes, I just wanted to say like show her that she's like, welcome here, I guess, and wants to hug her after everything that's happened really now.

MCLEAN (voice-over): Before the Queen died Thursday, it had been a turbulent two years, with Harry and Meghan stepping back as working members of the royal family. The last time the Princes saw each other, they did not interact. But on Saturday, they seemed to at least temporarily put their differences aside, kneeling to pay their respects to a monarch who united the country in morning.

Scott McLean, CNN, at Windsor Castle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN royal historian Kate Williams joining us now to talk more about the significance of those images and of the new king stepping into the role held by his mother for 70 years. Let's start with the boys as they're known, because this is the first time William and Kate had been joined by Harry and Meghan, as I understand it for a public engagement since Commonwealth day back on March 9th, 2020. That's pre COVID. I was reminded just earlier on today. Just how important do you believe this coming together yesterday in Windsor was and is?

[03:05:07]

KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL HISTORIAN: Good morning, Becky. Yes, I think this is very significant. And what a moment when they came down towards the crowds outside Windsor Castle who had been expecting a royal visit, obviously the security, the cordons, but they had no idea that they were going to get all four. I think they would -- they thought perhaps they might, William might come. But there was what we used to know as the Fab Four, William, Harry, Kate and Meghan.

And the crowd was so overwhelmed to see them, so thrilled, so delighted. And the symbolism there was just so moving. There's a lot of conversation in the newspapers this morning, the British newspapers about how it came about. Max Foster, our colleague here at CNN was told that it came about because William made a call to Harry, possibly quite last minute, and Harry and Meghan dropped everything to do it.

And we now are being told by sources in the newspapers that the reason why William called Harry was because Charles asked him to do so. So clearly, the new King Charles is saying, I want a family of unity and maybe underneath them are still resentment, still a lot of hurt, but the face is going to be one of unity. And perhaps that's going to be followed by increasing unity within the family. That's what we'd love to see.

And to me, the last time, you know, you and I really remember those boys looking at flowers was the moment outside Balmoral in 1997 after the tragic death of their mother, the heartbreaking moment when those two children came out and looked at all the flowers, the tributes. And yesterday, it's so sad about the Queen, but it's also such a thankful, a celebration of a life well lived. And I really do think that seeing the boys together again for a moment when the crowds were so happy really makes me hopeful that there's going to be more of a role that Harry and Meghan in the future in the monarchy they were refused a part time role. Let's hope they have one because it would give the monarchy so much.

ANDERSON: It will be a busy next what eight days for them, Kate. Let's bring in our colleague Isa Soares who is in Edinburgh with more on what we can expect in the coming hours and days. Isa?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Becky. Well today begins really the Queen's last journey, great last journey as King Charles calls to really all the way to Edinburgh and then to London. What we know right now, Becky, is that the Queen's coffin, oak coffin is lying in the ballroom in Balmoral, and then she will be transported, transferred, carried by six of the Balmoral residents gatekeepers to a waiting hearse.

Really an opportunity for those who have served the Queen for so many years to pay their last respects, then the coffin will leave Balmoral around 10:00 a.m. local, 5:00 a.m. Eastern. It will begin kind of slow six hour journey from Balmoral pass where I am the Royal Mile, pass St. Giles' Cathedral to the right of my shoulder, all the way down to the palace of Holyroodhouse here in Edinburgh.

It will be an 175 mile journey, Becky, and it will be a slow one. Normally it takes about three hours or so, Becky. But they've decided that it will be slow giving people the time to lie in the streets and pay their final respects. It will stop, it will pass first, a little picturesque Village Caballito. In fact where we will stay with so many people see the Queen as the neighbor, so many have stories to tell, how they would bump into her as she walked those beautiful highlands.

From there, she would -- the coffin will go past the city of Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth all the way here to pass the Royal Mile. Of course, as you can see, Becky, it is empty. Everyone is getting ready. The -- you will see police already lining the street waiting for that. The hearse is expected to past about 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. also. And then the Queen will lie at the Palace of Holyroodhouse overnight before then on Monday, we're seeing King Charles III lining, leading a procession with other members of the royal family to St. Giles' Cathedral where the Queen will lie, rest for some 24 hours, a final goodbye for many Scots in the last 24 hours -- in the next 24 hours, Becky.

ANDERSON: Isa, many will say that it was fitting that the Queen died in Scotland given her relationship with the country and how she felt about the people of Scotland, just explain.

SOARES: Well, the Queen, as you well know, particularly those who live in Balmoral where I've been for the last couple of days, they see the Queen very much as a friend and as a neighbor at Balmoral walls, a summer residence for the monarchy for many years and even before the Queen -- for Queen Victoria rune Victoria's time, in fact. And they have many wonderful memories, King Charles as well having many wonderful memories of Scotland, and indeed, of Balmoral.

[03:10:21]

It's where the Queen could really be herself, where she could walk her corgis, drive herself, drive her Land Rover, and meet locals. In fact, I met one, one gentleman who owns a shop, a butcher. And he said, he would often see the Queen as well as King Charles III coming into his shop. So there's a lot of love, not just in Balmoral, may I add, but also here in Edinburgh for a Queen and for this monarchy, who have, you know, where, which has been so close, of course, Scotland to their hearts.

Now, even having said that, Becky, there are polls that I've seen that in the last year that say about 45 percent of people so are pro monarchy, and but even those who are anti-monarchy, have a deep love and affection for the Queen. And we'll be interesting to see whether that transcends whether that continuity can pass on, of course, to King Charles III, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes. And that's the important point here, isn't it? Let's bring back, Kate. Just how significant will these next eight days worth of events and moments be for the new King Charles III, Kate? And is it clear at this point, what sort of role he will play in heading up this firm as it's known, going forward?

WILLIAMS: Yes, Becky, these next moments, these next days are so significant for Charles. We are in a period of mourning for the Queen. Britain really has been in shock since Thursday. But at the same time, we are all looking to the King to provide a seamless transition. And so far with his address to the nation, after his mother's death, by which he made it very clear, he wants to follow in her tradition of service, her constitutional duty. He wants to really do what she has done. That's what he's been repeating.

And that I think people have found very reassuring. He's the oldest person ever to come to the throne. He's had a lot of opinions. We've seen a lot of him, I think people have been concerned, he wouldn't be politically neutral. He's made it clear he will be. So he's really his opinion ratings are usually very low, you know, kind of under 50 percent. They are soaring. So he's in a very good position at the moment.

But I do think that people are going to start asking quite big questions of him very quickly. And just as Isa was saying here, the Scottish referendum could possibly be on the cards. And certainly as you were discussing earlier, other countries of which the monarch is head of state, such as Australia, such as Jamaica, will be looking into a referendum to whether or not they wish to become republic. So Charles has big challenges ahead, as well as the recession, the economic crisis, which we are approaching in this country.

And he -- this is really the big test, these days will be remembered of him forever, in the same way that the Queen's early days coming back from Kenya, being pitched into his age 25. They always shaped her reign. This is his moment to prove he can provide that continuity, so all the weight is on him.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. Kate Williams and Isa Soares, thank you both. And I'll have more from London in a few moments. First, let's hand you over to Alison Kosik, who is in New York for you. Alison?

[03:13:47]

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Becky. Thanks very much, Ukrainian flags are going back up in key towns and cities retaken from Russia. Details on what looks to be an embarrassing defeat for Moscow, coming up.

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KOSIK: Welcome back. I'm Alison Kosik. In Ukraine, the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been shut down after it had been reconnected to the Ukrainian energy grid, this according to Ukraine's Nuclear Agency. It says the reactor is using its own energy to power cooling systems. Russia has held the plant since March but it remains staffed by Ukrainian operators.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said last Tuesday, shelling damaged a backup power line supplying the plant. News from the nuclear plant comes as Ukraine claims major gains against Russian forces near Kharkiv. Ukrainian troops on Saturday rolled into Izium, driving out Kremlin forces after more than five months of occupation. This could be the most significant defeat for Moscow since the battle for Kyiv. CNN's Melissa Bell reports from Poltava southwest of Kharkiv.

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More gains for Ukrainian forces as they seek to move eastwards and that eastern offensive that began earlier this week. It was on August 29th. They began a counter offensive around the Kherson region in the south of the country. But he was the one that came afterwards that appears to have taken Russian forces by surprise with gains that have seen the towns of Kup'yans'k and Izium, which had been an important military hub for Russian forces retaken by Ukrainian soldiers.

And what we've been seeing over the course of the day, once again, images being posted on social media by soldiers, not just showing what they're being confronted with as they come in, people greeting them and welcoming them as liberators. But of course, the Ukrainian flags being placed once again on the rooftops of all those villages and towns as they get retaken.

President Zelenskyy has spoken on Saturday night as he does every lead, speaking of the fact that he says some 2,000 square kilometers of land have now been recaptured by Ukrainian forces and urging Russian forces once again, to head back. We've been hearing reports that a lot of the captures has happened in the east specifically with remarkable little resistance.

[03:20:02]

The Russian Ministry of Defense for the first time acknowledging some of the Ukrainian advances but explaining that the retreat from Izium had been strategic, suggesting that Russian forces were going back further south to the Donetsk region in order to defend it.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Poltava.

KOSIK: Ukraine's president is vowing his forces will keep advancing saying they can't stop now. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia's goal is to slowly consume Ukraine, using negotiations and laws in the conflict to get stronger. Here's what he told Fareed Zakaria in this CNN exclusive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): You know that our goal is to de-occupy our whole territory. The main goal is de-occupation. We just cannot allow Russia to continue the same occupation that they started back in 2014. They are eating you piecemeal, bit by bit. Russian cannibalism, I would call it this way. And I don't want to play this game, I don't like this. We will not be standing still. We will be slowly gradually moving forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: And you can watch the full interview with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in just a few hours coming up on Fareed Zakaria GPS that starts at 1:00 p.m. in New York, 6:00 p.m. in London, only on CNN.

Matthew Schmidt is an associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven, and he joins me now. Thanks for your time today.

MATTHEW SCHMIDT, ASSOC. PROF. OF NATIONAL SECURITY, UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN: My pleasure.

KOSIK: You know, there have been a lot of talk about a pending counter offensive. Now in the past few days, we have seen things change dramatically. First, we were hearing about success and retaking settlements. Now Ukrainian forces have entered the city of Izium a part from the boost in morale. I'm curious what your thoughts are here about how significant are these latest gains made by the Ukrainian military and how can Ukraine maintain this momentum?

SCHMIDT: Alison, this has been a tremendous couple of days for Ukraine. It's hard to underestimate how important these gains are. They caught the Russians by surprise, which was shocking because people were talking about the possibility of a breakthrough in this very spot. But the commanders weren't listening. And frankly, the troops that they had were unprofessional, right? Were second tier in that region, which is why it was chosen.

The Ukrainians now have to find the reserves to exploit the gains that they've made to continue to push east and then to move south towards Donetsk. That's really the key for them right now and we'll see in the coming days, if they have that.

KOSIK: Are the recent advances the results you think of fresh Western weapons, a change in tactics by Ukraine, Russia proving less durable than thought? Or is it a combination of all those?

SCHMIDT: Well, it's a combination. But I would highlight what I learned with the U.S. Army is that war is about politics. And warfare is about people and professionalism. And what you have is the world's here too, for thought of as second most powerful military collapsing, because as it turns out, it's unprofessional on the inside.

What happened in east here in large part was is you had second and third tier personnel in those front lines, you had officers who have been denuded in battle, who are simply unprofessional and not paying attention to the signs. And on the flip side, you have a citizen cont -- you know, volunteer army that's turned professional in a matter of weeks. That is exploiting the weapons that have been given to them by the United States in the west, to great effect, but they're able to do that because they know why they're fighting. And therefore they are fighting.

The Russians increasingly, when we see from reports, don't know why they are there and aren't fighting hard because of that.

KOSIK: OK, let's look at it from the other side of the equation here. Is their fear that Russia could be more likely to unleash a weapon we haven't seen so far, for instance, either chemical weapons or a tactical nuclear strike to turn the tide back in its favor?

SCHMIDT: Neither of those would turn the tide back in its favor on the battlefield. But I do think we're at heightened risk really sort of a max point of escalation right now, for Russia to turn and blame this on the West. What we see in the airwaves in Russia right now, what we see with their bloggers, is that the narrative is very much now saying that it wasn't Ukraine that pushed through here. It was the West, right? And Ukraine is our proxy.

And now they're building up a narrative to attack into Poland into NATO bases there or Romania, or somewhere. We don't know where, but it's unlikely that it would be somewhat, something like a tactical nuclear weapon or chemical weapons because that wouldn't help them much. But I think we really have to worry about some kind of asymmetrical attack, increased cyberattacks here in the U.S. and in Europe, using oil as a weapon, gas as a weapon, again, as we move into the winter months here in Europe, and some sort of sort of specialized attack because they don't have it on the ground to engage in a conventional attack that's going to do this for them now. [03:25:27]

KOSIK: The Biden administration last week announced more aid going to Ukraine, but is Ukraine actually getting the right ammunition? Is it getting the right weapons from the U.S. and other Western countries to actually keep up the fight against Russia? And how likely is it to face a war of attrition?

SCHMIDT: We're already in a war of attrition. That's one of the other things that we need to watch out for when we look at the maps. It's less about territory and more about personnel, right? Are the Russians able to have first year personnel up there or second and third tier of Ukrainians getting exhausted? Those are really the more important questions than where the lines are moving on the map.

As far as equipment, it seems like Ukraine is getting what they want right now. They're not getting enough of it. They would like attack them as they would like longer range artillery and rocket systems. So far, the U.S. hasn't agreed to give that to them. But it seems like what they're getting right now is enough to move against Russia, right, to push them back. They're going to need more of it over longer periods of time, it really going to do what they want.

KOSIK: All right, Matthew Schmidt, thanks for being here.

SCHMIDT: My pleasure.

KOSIK: And our Becky Anderson picks up coverage for us after a short break. She'll have a closer look at the historic ceremony, where King Charles was formally proclaimed as the British sovereign. That's ahead.

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[03:30:13]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Becky Anderson outside Buckingham Palace in London where the time is 8:30 in the morning. We are just a few hours away now from the start of the funeral procession for Queen Elizabeth II.

According to Buckingham Palace, the Queen's oak coffin will leave Balmoral in Scotland this morning. There will be stopped in Edinburgh and then a final journey to London. On Wednesday, members of the royal family will walk behind her coffin in a procession from Buckingham Palace here to Westminster Hall. She will lie in stay there until Monday, September 19th, when her funeral service will be held at Westminster Abbey.

And while the country mourns the Queen, a new era begins Saturday morning, King Charles III was formally declared Britain's new monarch in a ceremony at St. James's Palace. CNN's Max Foster has more from what was an historic moment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAVID WHITE, GARTER KING OF ARMS: Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now by the death of our late sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful leads Lord, Charles III. King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith.

MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): King Charles III publicly declared as the new monarch of the United Kingdom, a day enshrined with language and traditions from another age, when word of a new sovereign required it to be spoken out loud on the streets of the nation.

WHITE: God save the King.

CROWD: God save the King.

FOSTER (voice-over): Gun salutes across the four nations marked the principal of first public proclamation being made.

WHITE: Hep, hep.

CROWD: Hooray.

WHITE: Hep, hep.

CROWD: Hooray.

WHITE: Hep, hep.

CROWD: Hooray.

FOSTER (voice-over): This moments captured by cheering crowds on smartphones. It's followed what was a traditionally private accession ceremony inside St. James's Palace, the greater the good of the British establishment gathered, the new Prince of Wales with Queen Consort, Camilla, helping to study her as she walked onto the stage. For the first time the somber and solemn event televised for the world to see.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The council is assembled.

FOSTER (voice-over): Rituals and proceedings carried out at the Accession Council designed to confirm and endorse the King's position as the new head of state. Former prime ministers, current political leaders, and heads of the church, some of the so called privy counselors invited to witness this historic moment. Standing in front of the most senior of the thrones, King Charles began with a tribute to his beloved mother.

KING CHARLES III, UNITED KINGDOM: My mother's reign was unequaled in its duration, its dedication, and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.

FOSTER (voice-over): Before pledging his own lifetime of service.

KING CHARLES III: And in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life. I pray for the guidance and help of Almighty God.

FOSTER (voice-over): Taking an oath to uphold the security of the Church of Scotland, which is separate from the state unlike the Church of England, by his size to his closest allies, his son, William, the new Prince of Wales, and wife, Camilla, his Queen Consort.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God save the King.

FOSTER (voice-over): The day's pomp and pageantry continued a second public proclamation of the new king read at London's Royal Exchange, the heart of the city's financial center. The announcements are being sent onwards across the U.K.'s four nations and the kingdom's overseas realms and territories to mark a new era.

As King Charles, his car adorned by the Royal Standard, arrived at Buckingham Palace to begin what will be the task of a lifetime, his new reign.

Max Foster, CNN, Buckingham Palace, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Robert Hazell is a Professor of Government and the Constitution at University College London. It's good to have you with us today. Yesterday was the first time that King Charles III met his Privy Council, who are his Privy Council?

[03:35:08]

ROBERT HAZELL, PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CONSTITUTION, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON: The Privy Council are the Kings, most senior advisors. It goes back to the 13th century. And in the Middle Ages, it was the equivalent of what today we call the cabinet. And in the Middle Ages, the -- there were often contested, claimants to the crown, think of your Shakespeare history plays. And so the purpose of the Accession Council was to establish the legitimacy of Charles's claim to the crown. And for that to be acknowledged, recognized, and proclaimed by all those present.

And those present were senior politicians, senior judges, and also the high commissioners, the ambassadors from the 14 other countries around the world, where Charles is also now King and head of state.

ANDERSON: So our viewers will have recognized some of the faces of those who are members of the Privy Council, for example, former prime ministers, I saw Tony Blair there yesterday, Gordon Brown and David Cameron, and the like. So this takes us back to an era when the sovereign, the monarch had more powers as far as this country, and its other realms are concerned, this is now a constitutional monarchy.

And for those who may be not as familiar with the workings of government and the way this country is run, just explain what we mean by a constitutional monarchy and what is King Charles III's role going forward?

HAZELL: It can be explained in one simple sentence, the king reigns, but he does not rule. We are ruled in Britain by the government and by Parliament. So Liz Truss is our new prime minister. She's been presiding over meetings of her new cabinet. Parliament was in emergency session when they learned the news that the Queen had died. They were discussing the energy crisis and the economic crisis. All those decisions are taken by our elected politicians. And Charles, as King and head of state, rides above all that, he's above the political fray.

ANDERSON: And he must demonstrate the ability to rise above the political machinations, correct, because in the past, he has taken on some issues, which he has been somewhat ridiculed for, let's say, but these are consensus issues, for example, like the environment and climate crisis these days, so what role going forward?

HAZELL: That's right. As Prince of Wales, he was known for his passionate interest in climate change and farming, and helping young people through the work of his prince's trust and many other good causes. And going forward as the new monarch, he will have to be politically completely neutral. And indeed, he recognized that and he singled it in the personal declaration that he made at the Accession Council, when that was a short paragraph, when he said, I won't have so much time in future for the causes to which I have shown so much interest in the past. And he may have to give up the patronage of some of the organizations that he's supported because in future, he genuinely won't have much time. It's actually hard work.

Being monarch, there are lots of state papers to read and to sign. Most of the work goes on over our shoulders, in Buckingham Palace behind the scenes. The Queen was incredibly diligent and hardworking. She received red boxes of state papers every day of the year, except for Christmas Day and Easter Day. And I expect Charles to be equally conscientious and hardworking, he genuinely won't have so much time, but equally, he knows he's got to be completely neutral.

ANDERSON: We've been discussing over the past couple of days the fact that Republicanism has become somewhat redundant as a political issue in the U.K. at least. And I say somewhat redundant over the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, what's your sense of the support for a monarchy and the way that this country is set up under a King Charles III given forward?

HAZELL: Opinion polls have shown for decades that support for the monarchy in Britain is remarkably strong. They -- the institution enjoys support ratings between 70 and 80 percent. These are rankings politicians would die for. And it's the same interestingly in the other constitutional monarchies in Western Europe. But I think there could be growing support for republic in some of the other countries where Charles is now the new head of state, countries like Australia or Jamaica, where they've had quite strong republican movements for quite a long time.

[03:40:14]

But it's really difficult for those countries to amend their constitutions. Australia tried just over 20 years ago in a referendum in 1999, which failed, essentially, because they couldn't agree how to choose their new head of state. In Jamaica, successive prime ministers of both major parties have said they want to become a republic, but they haven't achieved it because the threshold for constitutional change though is very high. It requires a vote of two-thirds of both houses of parliament, followed by a referendum. So those countries in part are restricted by their own constitutions, if they want to make the change.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Well, we look to the future. It's been a pleasure having you on. Thank you very much indeed for joining us, Robert Hazell with the University College London.

Well, our coverage of the new royal era continues in just a moment. Up next, Commonwealth nations are mourning the late Queen Elizabeth II officially and welcoming her son to the throne, that story and more after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Remember nations of the Commonwealth marking the new royal era. These images are from the proclamation ceremony in Australia, where the government officially declared King Charles that -- the new head of state earlier on Sunday. A national day of remembrance for Queen Elizabeth will be held on September the 22nd after Australia's Prime Minister returns from attending the late monarch's funeral.

[03:45:01]

Well, neighboring Commonwealth country, New Zealand also officially proclaimed King Charles III as its head of state in a televised ceremony earlier today. Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and the Governor General attended the ceremony held outside parliament. The prime minister said King Charles has consistently demonstrated his deep care for the nation. Well, King Charles III is also been proclaimed Canada's new head of state after a ceremony in the capital of Ottawa on Saturday. CNN's Paula Newton has a story.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Canada, the official ceremony proclaiming King Charles III, the head of Canada, the sovereign of Canada, it pretty much mirrored what went on in Britain, the Prime Minister, the Governor General, and a 21 gun salute, started off the ceremony in the morning on Saturday.

Now what will follow up on the day of the official funeral for the Queen, there will also be a service held here in Canada. But what is so important to remember is the fact that it is continuity that will be important for King Charles. And of course for its service to Canada going forward. Remember, there is a Republican streak here in Canada as well. Many people especially indigenous peoples question whether or not that the harm that the crown brought for so many centuries to this country, whether or not it's appropriate to still have a monarchy, its head of state.

For that reason, it will be important not just for King Charles before is heirs, which is why it was so important to see Prince William and Prince Harry out there again today to really prove to Canada and its other realms that there is value in continuing this monarchy. Queen Elizabeth always called Canada, the second home to the royal family. And while Canadians so many of them reciprocated with that affection for so many years, it is not a guarantee that that will now extend to her heirs.

Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.

ANDERSON: Let's get to CNN's Nada Bashir now. Paula talking there about the importance of continuity, and I know that that is reflected in in the sort of sentiment that you hear from people gathered here at Buckingham Palace and those around the country. You've been speaking to a lot of people since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. What are they telling you?

NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Yes, absolutely. There is a real focus, of course, on the mourning period on the sort of the passing of the Queen and her legacy. But this is a historic moment. And many people are looking forward to this new reign of King Charles III and what that will mean for the country. And although there were conversations around whether or not King Charles would live up to the legacy that the Queen leaves behind, for the most part, the people that we've been speaking to here are pretty hopeful, they are optimistic, they have given a warm welcome to the new King.

We saw him meeting with crowds outside Buckingham Palace. We saw that procession yesterday, crowds gathered in their hundreds. It was pretty difficult to move around here. And just speaking to them, they were all excited to be part of this moment to see just a glimpse of the King driving by. And this was really a historic moment that many people have come with their families to really mark.

So there is some hopeful optimism there for what this means for the country. And the King has acknowledged, of course, in his speech, his first address to the nation that he is coming to the throne at a time where the country is in a very different position. There are challenges ahead. Many people of course, focusing on the struggles that people are facing now, the cost of living crisis. So there are struggles ahead. And of course, while the King will be apolitical, he is a symbol of continuity of stability for the country.

ANDERSON: Are these important to point out that when you talk to people, you know, in amongst the crowds here, these are people who are likely great supporters of the royal family and the institution in and of itself, otherwise, they probably wouldn't come here to pay their respects, you know, as a mark of respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I have to say I've spoken to many, many friends who haven't come down here, but also feel, you know, a real sense of time at this point.

You know, this is an extraordinary moment in British history. I think, you know, you pointed out earlier that this is a monarch who was talked about being here for the entire nation, it doesn't matter what religion or race you are. And I think that is an important point at this point.

BASHIR: Absolutely. And he acknowledged this in his speech. He said, this is a country, of course, which now encompasses people of many faiths, of many cultures and different backgrounds, and that he will serve all of those people with loyalty, with respect, with love, and that will be underpinning his reign. And of course, there are conversations around the position that the monarchy holds now in society. Times have changed and it's very different. There are conversations around how the monarchy should interact with society at this point, whether or not the King should take a more activist role.

And there are conversations around the relationship with the Commonwealth nations as well. Of course, the royal family has in the past, received criticism, some backlash around those royal visits to Commonwealth countries, of course, the history, the legacy that underpins the royal family, and we're talking about things like colonialism. And so there are issues there, that the royal family does have to overcome. But what we have seen of course is the royal family really trying to modernize, to adapt to this new era, to evolve and to become present. We've seen that of course in the appointment of the Prince of Wales, William and Kate, the Princess of Wales.

[03:50:13]

ANDERSON: We're talking about the crowds who've been gathered here and I expect to see more again today, this Sunday. Of course, we'll also see a lot of people that line the streets as the Queen's casket is moved from Balmoral to Edinburgh today. Just very briefly, what do we know about those plans?

BASHIR: Absolutely. We are going to see the Queen's coffin leaving Balmoral. It will be making its way to Edinburgh, it will pass through Aberdeen to Dundee. And we are expecting to see people gathering, lining the streets once again. The coffin will be taken down central Edinburgh down the Royal Mile. It was taken down to St. Giles' Cathedral, where it will lie in state for people to pay their respects. We already saw people gathering yesterday at Balmoral to pay their respects.

And we saw other senior members of the royal family, they're taking a moment to read those letters, see the flowers. We saw Princess Eugenie visibly moved by the letters that were left behind for the Queen.

ANDERSON: Prince Andrew's daughter, of course, thank you very much indeed, Nada with me here outside Buckingham Palace.

Our coverage of Queen Elizabeth's upcoming funeral procession to Edinburgh continues after this short break. Soon she'll be leaving her country home Balmoral for the last time. Stay with us.

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[03:55:34]

ANDERSON: The school of bagpipes at Balmoral in Scotland. You are looking at a concert performed for Queen Elizabeth a few weeks before she died. A piper said, they didn't know whether the ailing monarch would attend until the last minute. He said she looked frail, but still had spirit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EUAN ANDERSON, BAGPIPER WHO PLAYED FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH: I guess you would call it old school. But there's something in there, the drive. Yes, so it would have been easier, it would be quite easier for her to cancel all these small types of engagements. But on the contrary, I think she encouraged and embraced it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Euan Anderson there, the 62-year-old retiree performs all over Edinburgh, and has been playing the pipe since he was 12. But he says nothing has been as special as that late summer concert for the Queen at Balmoral.

We are now about an hour away from when Queen Elizabeth's funeral procession is set to begin from Balmoral to Edinburgh in Scotland. That is 175 mile route. It will take about six hours for her casket to get there by hearse. A service will be held at St. Giles' Cathedral in that city on Monday. And then the Queen's body will be flown to London on Tuesday. She will then lie in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday. And her funeral service and interment will take place the following Monday, September the 19th.

I'm Becky Anderson live here at Buckingham Palace. I'll be back after this.

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