the king is dead, long live the king

1.
British EnglishEuropean historical usageGeneral Englishformalhistorical
- A traditional proclamation announcing the death of a monarch and simultaneously declaring the accession of the new monarch, emphasizing the continuity of the monarchy.
- A formal statement that authority or sovereignty passes immediately from a deceased ruler to the successor, ensuring uninterrupted governance.
2.
General EnglishInternational Englishfigurativeidiomatic
- Used metaphorically to indicate that although one leader, system, or era has ended, it is immediately replaced by another, often implying continuity despite change.
- Employed to comment on transitions in which a new dominant entity supplants an old one while preserving the overall structure or order.

Examples: