PRIME MINISTER MARAPE WELCOMES KING CHARLES III AS PNG HEAD OF STATE
Marape - Rosso Government 2022 | Approved for Release: Tuesday, 13th September 2022.
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP has welcomed King Charles III as the Head of State of Papua New Guinea at the Proclamation Ceremony held at the Parliament House today.
In his speech before the Governor-General His Excellency Sir Bob Dadae proclaimed King Charles III as the King of Papua New Guinea, he said as he watched the developments in the United Kingdom on Friday, 8th of September 2022, (PNG Time), and knew we would be witnessing some historic events happening in the life of our country as an Independent State and a member of the Realm of the Commonwealth.
Prime Minister Marape said at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, a new King has ascended the throne at the recommendation of the Queen's Privy Council.
He said he and the Governor General together with their spouses, are expected to have an audience with King Charles III on the 16th of September, which coincidently falls on the Day of our Independence.
It is also the day that connects the history of the newly ascended Monarch to our country's history as he was the one who represented the Queen at the lowering and changing of the flags on 16th September, 1975.
"As a member of the Commonwealth nations, it is a monumental time to be in London also to mark the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
The Prime Minister said during his audience with the King, he will also take time to convey the congratulations of the people of Papua New Guinea to King Charles III on his ascension.
"The Governor-General and I will be traveling to London to attend Queen Elizabeth's lay-in-state at Westminster Abbey, the signing of the condolence book, have an audience with the new King, attend the funeral service and the burial of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," Prime Minister Marape said.
"It will be our honour to represent our people from our 600 islands, from the mountains, from the valleys, along the rivers and the coastlines of the entire length and breadth of our country and convey our deepest condolences to the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom."
He said the passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is an event of monumental proportion in our history because she is someone who connected our past to the present in her 70 year reign.
"Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was requested by our then, the Constituent Assembly in 1974 to be the Head of State for Papua New Guinea, a provision that also extends to the Heirs and Successors," Prime Minister Marape said.
"She had performed her duty to us continuously for the last 46 years. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British Monarch and the second longest recorded of a Monarch of a sovereign country."
Prime Minister Marape said since the ascension of the then Princess Elizabeth Alexander, at age 27 to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, she had been a symbol of grace, dignity, loyalty to duty and the commitment to the cause she believed in. She exemplified leadership of global standing.
The Prime Minister said she also exhibited strong ethical standing and her willingness to embrace all before her was notable.
"Papua New Guinea has learnt to embrace royalty because of her outlook within the realm and her long life. She was a defining and a steady influence over many countries within the commonwealth and her life was totally the anchor of our nation's life," he said.
Prime Minister Marape said Her Majesty is affectionately known as Misis Kwin and had been a part of the entire lifetime of our country, as the Head of our State, stopping short of reaching 47 years of our nationhood by just eight days.
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