To a blast of trumpets, King Charles slipped into the role that was his destiny

The ceremony of accession was witnessed for the first time by television cameras. Viewers across the world watched Penny Mordaunt, leader of the privy council since last Wednesday, preside over a ceremony unchanged for 300 years. The new King addressed an audience including six of the 14 former prime ministers who served under his mother, their heads bobbing allegiance like extras in a Holbein painting.

The proclamation then moved to a ceremony at noon in the City of London; this form of royal news will formally ripple out to Edinburgh and Cardiff and Belfast tomorrow.

A few months on, however, no one in the crowds waiting to glimpse the new King would admit to ever having held that opinion. Phil Daly, 53, a primary school teacher from Deal in Kent, was typical of those I spoke to. He had come to the capital on the first train at 6.30am and left a bouquet at the palace.

So far, it suits him well.