On Friday, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III will deliver his first address to the British people. The queen was the only monarch most Britons had ever known, and her departure marked the end of an era that stretched seven decades.
Charles said in a statement on Thursday, “We sorrow deeply the demise of a revered monarch and a much-loved mother.” “I am certain that her passing will be keenly felt throughout the nation, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, as well as by countless individuals around the globe.”
Friday morning, Charles returned to London after spending the night at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the queen passed away.
In the capital, crowds of people greeted the new king and his wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort, as they entered Buckingham Palace to record Charles’ speech.
His accession to the throne comes days after the appointment of new Prime Minister Liz Truss in the wake of Boris Johnson’s departure. Truss drove to Balmoral on Monday to meet with Queen Elizabeth, which was the queen’s last official engagement.
The royal transfer occurs at a time when the British economy is experiencing difficulties. Thursday, Truss unveiled a plan to cap heating and electricity costs for the next two years in response to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The royal line of succession in Britain 32 pictures