Lloyd's marks death of Queen Elizabeth II, accession of King Charles III

Lloyd’s has held a ceremony to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III, with the event taking place ahead of a one-day closure of the underwriting room for the UK national day of mourning.

The Lutine Bell was rung once for the Queen last Thursday at the start of the ceremony and twice at the conclusion to acclaim the new King. The bell was also rung on September 8 after the death of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch was announced.

On Thursday, bagpipe music played and the Lloyd’s Choir sang, the London Market Association CEO Sheila Cameron read a poem of reflection and the gathering was addressed by Lloyd’s Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown and CEO John Neal.

Mr Carnegie-Brown said the Queen made official visits to Lloyd’s in 1952, 1986 and 2014.

“On that first visit, the same year as her own accession, Her Majesty charged Lloyd’s with ‘embodying the highest qualities of British commerce: keenness and efficiency, with a real and deep public spirit’,” he said.

“We continue to embrace that responsibility today. Her words are indelibly written in our history and will be cherished by all at Lloyd’s for years to come.”

Mr Carnegie-Brown said the ringing of the bell twice for King Charles would represent the start of a new chapter in a shared history, and a chance to recognise the beginning of another historic partnership.

“That partnership already has firm foundations, as Lloyd’s has been privileged to host His Majesty, while Prince of Wales, on several occasions, most recently, in June last year to launch the Insurance Task Force of his Sustainable Markets Initiative, which we were honoured to be invited to chair,” he said.

“As His Majesty takes on the great burdens of state at this time of sadness and loss, we offer our support and condolences to him and to his family.

“For our part, we will continue to carry the baton of building a braver and more sustainable future, as championed by His Majesty and charged to Lloyd’s and others through the work of his Sustainable Markets Initiative.”

The Lutine Bell, which sits in the Underwriting Room atrium, is used to mark significant occasions, with one ring for sad news and two when there’s cause for celebration.

The Lloyd’s building and Underwriting Room will be closed for today’s state funeral and UK national day of mourning.