King Charles III embarked on his first public duties as Britain’s monarch on Friday, as he prepared a historic address to the nation following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96.
The new King arrived in London from Balmoral, the royal estate in Scotland, and with Queen Camilla beside him immediately greeted crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace. The couple were met with cheers and cries of “God Save the King”.
Moving to the palace, the King recorded a message to the nation to be broadcast at 6pm, an address expected to set the tone for the period of mourning and the first royal transition since 1952. He delivered the speech against the grandeur of the Blue Drawing Room, designed by the architect John Nash and originally used as a ballroom.
Shortly afterwards the King went on to hold a half-hour audience with Liz Truss, who became prime minister just three days ago.
Parliament gathered at noon for a 10-hour session for MPs to pay their respects to the Queen while bells tolled at St Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey and elsewhere.
Truss told MPs the Queen was “one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known”, who bequeathed “a modern, dynamic nation that has grown and flourished under her reign”.
With the UK beginning 10 days of national mourning, sports events scheduled for this weekend were cancelled, including Premier League matches and Test cricket.
The next meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, which was due to take place next Thursday, was postponed and will now be held the following week.
Truss and other senior politicians will attend a remembrance service at St Paul’s from 6pm on Friday.
The King’s formal accession to the throne and proclamation as monarch will take place on Saturday, when parliament will sit so that senior MPs can swear an oath of allegiance.
Crowds have gathered outside the royal residences including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, leaving flowers and tributes in memory of Elizabeth II.
Sir Keir Starmer, Britain’s leader of the opposition, said the loss of the Queen “robs our country of its stillest point, its greatest comfort, at precisely a time when we need those things most”.
The new King said that his mother’s death was a moment of “the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family”. He said the family would be “comforted and sustained” by the respect and affection felt in Britain and across the Commonwealth towards the Queen, who celebrated the 70th anniversary of her reign this year.
The Queen’s death prompted tributes from the public and expressions of gratitude and condolences from leaders in Britain, around Europe and the Commonwealth, as well as corporate leaders and US presidents.
Her reign encompassed the decolonisation of much of the British empire in Africa and Asia, as well as the consolidation of the Commonwealth. It also fostered the emergence of the modern monarchy, which became the subject of intense media scrutiny. The Queen’s personal popularity was an important factor in maintaining support for the monarchy in the UK in recent years.
She was known chiefly to her subjects by her presence at public events and televised Christmas messages, which often emphasised the values of duty and dialogue. She became the longest-serving monarch in British history in 2015, surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
Boris Johnson, who left Downing Street this week, said the late Queen was “as radiant, knowledgeable and fascinated by politics” as he could remember during their final meeting on Tuesday, when she “saw off her 14th prime minister and welcomed her 15th”.