"I felt I had to be here today, because I was here 70 years ago, to hear "the late King is dead, long live the Queen'", Isle of Wight resident Peter Woodnutt, 81, told the Isle of Wight County Press on Sunday, as King Charles III's accession to the throne was formally announced in Newport. 

"We all came along in 1952 and heard it, and then went back to school.

"I thought, there's not many people standing here today that are going to be able to say that," Mr Woodnutt said.

An historic scene played out on Sunday afternoon, next to Newport Minster, in St Thomas's Square. At 1pm, dignitaries and well-wishers gathered for the official reading, marking the death of the Queen and arrival of a new King, Charles III.

Isle of Wight County Press: Peter Woodnutt with High Sheriff Kay Marriott.Peter Woodnutt with High Sheriff Kay Marriott. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press.)

Isle of Wight County Press: High Sherriff, Kay Marriott holds the Proclamation.High Sherriff, Kay Marriott holds the Proclamation. (Image: Lucy Morgan, Isle of Wight County Press.)

Proceedings were led by Isle of Wight High Sheriff Kay Marriott, assisted by HM Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Brigadier Maurice Sheen.

After the reading, God Save The King was sung, to an accompaniment by members of the Wight Diamonds Marching Band, and three cheers were given.

Following the ceremony, the High Sheriff told the Isle of Wight County Press: "It is a great honour to be able to proclaim the accession of the new King. 

"When I was nominated, five years ago, I could never have envisaged what 2022 would bring: Coming out of a pandemic, the Platinum 70th Jubilee year, and now the proclamation of the new King, after the sad demise of Her Majesty, the Queen." 

It was very similar to the ceremony in 1952, on the death of King George VI, and the accession of Queen Elizabeth II.

Isle of Wight County Press: How the death of King George VI was reported in the County Press on February 9, 1952.How the death of King George VI was reported in the County Press on February 9, 1952. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press.)

Isle of Wight County Press: How the death of King George VI was reported in the County Press on February 9, 1952.How the death of King George VI was reported in the County Press on February 9, 1952. (Image: Bob Cuffe.)

On that occasion, the ceremony started at 11am and an announcement was first made on the balcony of Newport Guildhall, by the then mayor, Lieutenant-Colonel Mew, and then on the steps of County Hall, by Captain Ward. 

The proclamation was also read out in Ryde, at the town hall, by Mayor Christy. 

Of 2022, Peter said: "This was better organised. There was no band or anything in 1952.

"Don't expect me to remember word-for-word, but the citation is the same, whatever era it is.

"We are in a toally different world now. Having heard the speeches that King Charles III has made, I think he's gone up in a lot of people's estimations and he's going to make a damn good job at this. I never doubted him."

Peter, who is registered blind, ran Woodnutt’s in Union Street, Ryde, until 2007.

Supported by the charity Sight for Wight, he made headlines in March when he wrote a poem about saving the environment.

It was so emotive, that when he shared it with a number of famous faces, he received responses the soon-to-be King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as from broadcaster David Attenborough.