the king is dead, long live the king

Meanings:

• 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.