King Charles III vows ‘lifelong service’
King Charles III pledged to follow his mother’s example of “lifelong service” in his inaugural address to Britain and the Commonwealth on Friday, after ascending to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, AFP reported.
Speaking for the first time as monarch from Buckingham Palace, the 73-year-old thanked his “darling mama” for her “love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations.”
“May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest,” Charles, wearing a black suit and tie, said in an emotional address — in a quote from Hamlet.
“As the queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.”
As Charles spoke, dignitaries attended a sombre remembrance service for the late queen at St Paul’s Cathedral that saw the first official rendition of the updated national anthem “God Save the King.”
Earlier, the oldest heir to ascend to the throne received flowers, cheers and even kisses as he greeted well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace on his return from Scotland, where his mother died “peacefully” aged 96 on Thursday.
“He’s got a hard act to follow,” Londoner Stephen Johnson, 56, told AFP, standing by the palace’s railings holding a Union Jack flag and photo of the queen. “He’s our king now, we’ve got to love him.”
Church bells and ceremonial gun salutes for the departed monarch had sounded across a country dealing with the loss of a constant presence for the last 70 years.
Charles — who held his first audience with British Prime Minister Liz Truss as monarch — will be formally proclaimed king to the public at 11 am (1000 GMT) on Saturday.
In his address, he said his elder son William, who moves up the line of succession to become heir, would become the new Prince of Wales.
William’s wife Kate will also assume the title of Princess of Wales once held by his mother Princess Diana, who died in 1997.
Charles also expressed his “love” for his younger son Harry and Harry’s wife Meghan.
Elizabeth II reigned for a record-breaking 70 years, a source of stability in a period of extraordinary change whose death sparked heartfelt tributes from across the world.
The new king and other members of the royal family will observe an extended mourning period from Friday until seven days after her funeral.