King Charles III expresses ‘profound sorrow’ over queen’s death in first speech as king
By Megan Specia and Mark Landler
LONDON — King Charles III, in his first address to the nation as sovereign, made clear his intention to carry on his mother’s legacy while honouring her service, telling the nation in a televised speech, “Our values have remained and must remain constant.”
But even as he spoke of the loss of a woman who had been known to the world for her decades of leadership, he also reflected on his own feelings of profound sorry for the loss of his mother.
“Throughout her life, Her Majesty the Queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration and example to me and all our family,” he said. “And we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example.”
The televised speech, which was broadcast live at 6 p.m. and played simultaneously to a group of mourners who had gathered at London’s St. Paul’s cathedral, was the centrepiece of a solemn day of remembrance for the queen.
But it also emphasized the continuity of governance in Britain’s constitutional monarchy, as the new king held an audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took office earlier this week.
Reflecting on the commitment of service to the nation that Queen Elizabeth II made when she ascended the throne, King Charles III said, “That promise of lifelong service, I renew to you all today.”
While much of the speech focused on Elizabeth’s formal role, Charles ended his speech with a more personal message that he directed “to my darling mama.” He continued: “I want simply to say this, thank you. Thank you for your love, and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years.”
He ended the speech with a nod to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, saying, “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Charles, newly acceded to the British throne, had returned to London on Friday from Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a day after the death of Elizabeth, as the inaugural address to the nation was televised.
Before the king arrived in the capital, the sound of gun salutes reverberated through the city from Hyde Park and other sites — 96 rounds, one for each year of the queen’s life. Bells tolled at midday at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle, outside London, where the queen spent much of the end of her life.
Charles was accompanied by Camilla, now the Queen Consort, a title her mother-in-law fervently wished her to have. Marking her 70 years on the throne in February, the queen anticipated this moment of transition, appealing in a personal statement for Britons to open their hearts to Charles and Camilla.
He spoke of his “darling wife Camilla”, who has now become queen, saying, “I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely on so much.”
During his speech to the nation, Charles also bestowed the title of Prince of Wales on his son and heir, William. His wife, Catherine, will now become the Princess of Wales, the first person to hold that title since William’s mother, Diana. In a warm moment, Charles also expressed his love for his son Harry and his wife Meghan, “as they continue to build their lives overseas”.
Shortly after William and his wife, Catherine, were given their new titles of Prince and Princess of Wales, a palace official said the couple “are focused on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time”.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity following royal protocol, added that the prince and princess will approach their roles “in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously” and that Catherine “appreciates the history associated with this role but will understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path.”
In a week of dizzying change in Britain, Charles is the second senior British figure to deliver a maiden address. Truss spoke Tuesday (6) in front of Downing Street, on the day the queen anointed her as prime minister. Two days later, she walked out to the same lectern to swear fealty to the new king.
The king’s speech is the first of a choreographed sequence of events marking the transition from Elizabeth to Charles. On Saturday, Charles will be formally proclaimed after a meeting of the Accession Council, a conclave of senior officials who meet, by custom, at St. James’s Palace in the wake of a monarch’s death.
-New York Times
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