The new King Charles III has paid tribute to his mother the Queen in a statement just hours after her death on Thursday.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” the statement from Buckingham Palace read.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms, and the commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”
Charles, 73, officially became king the moment his mother died at Balmoral Castle, although his formal coronation may still be weeks away.
His eldest son, Prince William 40, is now next in line to the throne, followed by his own firstborn son, Prince George, 9.
The Queen’s death followed that of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip. He died at age 99 in June 2021.
Shortly after the Queen’s death, it was announced that her son would be known as King Charles III, in the first decision of his new reign. He could have chosen any of his four given names – Charles Philip Arthur George.
More changes are likely too, under the new monarch. Although he is heir to the throne, Prince William will not automatically become Prince of Wales.
He does immediately inherit one of his father’s other titles, Duke of Cornwall. His wife Kate Middleton will be known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
There will also be a new title for Charles’ wife, whose full title will be Queen Consort – consort is the term used for the spouse of the monarch.
When Charles’s first wife, Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, Camilla was a divisive figure in Britain – seen as someone who could never marry the Prince of Wales, let alone become queen.
The Queen did not even attend the couple’s 2005 wedding, although she did go to the reception afterwards.
But any lingering doubts about Camilla’s future status were finally dispelled on the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne, in February. She gave her blessing to Camilla taking the title Queen Consort after her death, saying it was her “sincere wish” that she do so.
Charles and Camilla, the new Queen Consort. Photo: Getty
What happens next
Charles will be officially proclaimed king sometime in the next 24 hours.
It will be a solemn ceremony at St James’s Palace in London, in front of a ceremonial body known as the Accession Council.
The council is made made up of members of the Privy Council – a group of senior MPs, past and present, and peers – as well as some senior civil servants, Commonwealth high commissioners, and the Lord Mayor of London.
The Privy Council is made up of more than 700 members, as diverse as former prime ministers of distant Commonwealth nations. All are entitled to attend in theory, but given the short notice, few are likely.
At the last Accession Council in 1952, on the death of the Queen’s father George VI, there were about 200 people.
The monarch does not traditionally attend.
The Queen’s death will be announced by the Lord President of the Privy Council after the meeting, and a proclamation will be read out. It is then signed by senior figures, including the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Chancellor.
-with agencies
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