WORTHING MP Sir Peter Bottomley has become one of the first politicians to swear allegiance to new monarch King Charles III.

Sir Peter, the MP for Worthing West, swore allegiance to the new King as part of the ceremony taking place on Saturday, September 10, to proclaim the new monarch.

As Father of the House of Commons, the Conservative MP is first behind speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to swear allegiance, and ahead of new Prime Minister Liz Truss.

The Father of the House is a ceremonial title bestowed on the male MP who has the longest continuous service in the House of Commons.

Sir Peter has served as Worthing West MP since 1997, before which he was MP for West Woolwich in London from 1975.

MPs are swearing allegiance to King Charles III as he is proclaimed King following the death of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday, September 8.

The national proclamation is to be followed by regional proclamations tomorrow.