King Charles III has accepted a key role within the Church of Scotland during his Accession Council at St James' Palace.

As part of the ceremony, the monarch must recite a number of oaths, one of which requires him to promise to uphold the Protestant faith of Scotland by declaring it entirely independent. 

He will then make a similar oath in front of Parliament, promising to assume the role of the head of the Church of England. 

The monarch has already been named as King, following the death of his mother on Thursday, 8th September. However, the Accession Council is a ceremonial confirmation of the fact. 

It was the first time the ceremony has been televised. 

When issuing his oath to the Kirk, the King said: "I understand that the Law requires that I should, at My Accession to the Crown, take and subscribe the Oath relating to the Security of the Church of Scotland. I am ready to do so at this first opportunity.

"I, Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of my other Realms and Territories, King, Defender of the Faith, do faithfully promise and swear that I shall inviolably maintain and preserve the Settlement of the true Protestant Religion as established by the Laws made in Scotland in prosecution of the Claim of Right and particularly by an Act intituled 'An Act for securing the Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Church Government' and by the Acts passed in the Parliament of both Kingdoms for Union of the two Kingdoms, together with the Government, Worship, Discipline, Rights and Privileges of the Church of Scotland.

"So help me God."

The promise was witnessed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. 

The ceremony also included Penny Mordaunt, Acting Lord President of the Privy Council, followed by the principal Proclamation read at St James's Palace by the Garter King of Arms, David White, on the balcony overlooking Friary Court.