George III was not give a copy directly. Copies were sent by British officials back to the UK. Several responses were created both by loyalists in North America and by the UK government.

By this point in history most of the governing of the UK was not particularly done by the monarch, rather delegated to the Prime Minister and other secretaries of state. George III also suffered from various mental health issues that rendered him unfit for rule.

The Thirteen Colonies were already in a state of rebellion at the time of signing. The declaration was a formalisation of the expression of the will of the second continental congress, a year after the conflict had begun.