Overwhelmed admirers who waited in line outside Buckingham Palace to see King Charles III and pay their respects to the late Queen gladly received kisses from him.
On Friday afternoon, when he made his way carefully to the palace’s front gates, the new King took the time to address the populace and was met with a warm welcome.
He exited his Bentley and made his way through the throng of thousands, pausing to shake hands and converse with those who had been waiting for him all morning.
One of the women was filled with emotion to the point that she reached out and grasped the King’s face before bringing him in for a kiss on the cheek.
Although the action may be seen as a violation of royal decorum, Charles was cordial and seemed to thank her at the time.
Later, as he went by, another lady kissed his extended hand.
The crowd’s chant of “God Save The King” made the King more emotional.
In stirring moments, the National Anthem was spontaneously performed as the Royal Standard was hoisted over Buckingham Palace for the first time under his rule.
One of the many well-wishers who brought flowers along for the occasion offered him a single rose, and he made an attempt to speak to as many individuals in the audience as possible.
He spoke to the people for a total of 12 minutes outside the palace gates.
New York-born 47-year-old film director Raynald Leconte said he had the good fortune to talk with the King and Queen Consort outside Buckingham Palace.
It was a significant occasion, he remarked. I offered my sympathy. “Truly, really thank you very much,” he said. And when I wished luck to his wife, she said, “Thank you very much.” She may have said, “I’ll need that.”
Ammar Al-Baldawi, 64, a retired man from Hertfordshire, remarked among the masses: “It was spectacular, touching, a nice move to come out to the public.”
“I believe that’s where the royal family needs to interact with the public right now,” she said. These people are genuine loyalists, so it’s great to have him back in office managing the family and the Crown.
Charles brought Queen Consort Camilla to Buckingham Palace, but she kept her distance as he addressed the people and took their well wishes.
She came back to his side to see the flower arrangements and personal inscriptions placed at the royal gates.
Around 1.30 pm, police pulled people away from Buckingham Palace’s main entrance in preparation for the King’s arrival. They did this by constructing a 30 foot corridor between the people and the flower bouquets.
Just after 1.30pm, Charles and Camilla arrived at RAF Northolt after departing Balmoral, where they had spent the night after rushing to be at the late Queen’s bedside.
This afternoon, the King will meet with Prime Minister Liz Truss before delivering a televised address to the country at 6 o’clock.
As the fragile monarch’s health deteriorated yesterday, members of the royal family hurried to be with her.
In 6.30 p.m. at Balmoral, one of her favourite homes, The Firm announced the ‘peaceful’ passing of the woman. She often visited there with her late husband, Prince Philip.
According to Kensington Palace, Prince William, who is now known as the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge, departed Balmoral just before noon on his way back to Windsor to be with his family ahead of the Accession Council.
At the estate are still Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
‘My family and I will be comforted and supported by our awareness of the respect and great love with which The Queen was so universally regarded throughout this season of loss and transition,’ Charles said in a statement on Thursday night.
Charles and his wife Camilla boarded the royal chopper at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, and spent the most of the day at their mother’s side.
Princess Anne, his younger sister, had already arrived at Balmoral after travelling to Scotland on royal business as well.
Other prominent members of the Royal Family, such as Prince William and Her Majesty’s other two children, Andrew and Edward, joined them.
Following the Queen’s physicians’ unusual admission that they were “concerned” about her health and were keeping her under close observation, the family hurried to her home in Scotland.
At 73 years old, Charles is taking the throne, making him roughly 10 years older than the Queen was when she was in the same situation.
After the passing of his mother, he is expected to begin a fundamental reform of the monarchy since he has regularly discussed a front line that is smaller.