Kings Charles III thanks Queen for her 'love and devotion' and pledges to 'serve with loyalty, respect and love' in address to nation
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The announcement of her passing was made by Buckingham Palace at 6.30pm on Thursday, September 8. She died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, with some of her closest family by her side.
Her Majesty the Queen ruled for longer than any monarch in British history, dedicating her lifetime to serving the UK and Commonwealth.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt was announced on Friday, September 9 by Buckingham Palace that a period of royal mourning will be observed until seven days after the Queen’s funeral.
King Charles III addressed the nation for the first time at 6pm on Friday evening, September 9.
In his address, he pledged to “serve with loyalty, respect and love” as he thanked the late Queen for her “love and devotion”.
He earlier greeted crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace and held his first in-person audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn the North East, the iconic Great North Run half marathon has been confirmed as going ahead this Sunday (September 11). The 13.1-mile route runs between Newcastle and South Shields, raising thousands for charity.
Other events due to take place throughout the Great Run weekend have been postponed, as have Premier League and EFL fixtures across the coming days.
BBC One has also suspended its regular programming schedule in the wake of the Queen’s death and is airing rolling news coverage on Friday.
A lifetime of service and the legacy left behind
Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne came in February 1952, following the death of her father (King George VI), with her coronation at Westminster Abbey taking place in June 1953.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad
In June 2022, an extended celebration was held in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as the nation paid tribute to the dignity, dedication and duty of the Monarch.
The nation has united in mourning as countless tributes are paid to Queen Elizabeth II, with people and organisations alike recognising her unwavering determination to serve her people.
Her son Charles, whose new title has been confirmed as King Charles III, will now serve as monarch – our first King in more than 70 years.
After returning to London with the Queen Consort (Camilla, formerly the Duchess of Cornwall), he is expected to address the nation for the first time on Friday.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBuckingham Palace confirmed that the King will be proclaimed at the Accession Council at 10am on Saturday (September 10) in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace.
You can read tributes following the Queen’s passing and updates on what happens next below.
Kings Charles III thanks Queen for her ‘love and devotion’ and pledges to ‘serve with loyalty, respect and love’ in address to nation
Key Events
- A period of national mourning is underway following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96; she was Britain's longest-serving monarch.
- King Charles III has addressed the nation for the first time, pledging to “serve with loyalty, respect and love”.
- The King ended his address with tribute to “darling Mama”.
- Some sporting events over the weekend have been cancelled as a mark of respect. Sunday's Great North Run will take place as planned.
- William will become Prince of Wales.
- Tributes continue to pour in from across the globe in recognition of the Queen's lifetime of service and dedication. She ruled for more than 70 years.
- We’ll bring you more updates on Saturday.
Queen Elizabeth II: Thank you, Ma’am, for your lifetime of service to us all.
Countless tributes are being paid to the duty and dedication to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, September 8 at the age of 96.
Her accession to the throne came when she was just 25 - and for more than 70 years since, she has given her everything to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.
We are now in a period of national mourning, with more details to become clear and many updates to follow in the coming days. We will keep you informed of the key information as it becomes available.
To Our Queen and the Royal Family; our thoughts are with you at this time of sadness. Her son Charles - now to be King Charles III - is our new monarch.
Her Majesty the Queen
Her Majesty the Queen, pictured in June 2022, has ruled longer than any other British Monarch.
This year, she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. The nation paid tribute to her 70 years of service, and a lifetime dedicated to duty across a four-day weekend of celebrations.
Picture: Getty Images.
The first Palace statement on Thursday
Buckingham Palace issued its first statement shortly after 12.30pm on Thursday, September 8.
It said: “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.
“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
The Queen’s life and reign
Her Majesty the Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, has had an extraordinary reign between 1952 and 2022.
Thank you, Your Majesty, for your lifetime of service to the UK and Commonwealth.
Picture: Getty Images.
What happens next?
Elizabeth II, 96, was the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, serving as head of state for more than 70 years.
The Prince of Wales is now King, having acceded to the throne immediately on the death of his mother.
In a statement, the Palace said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The Queen dedicated her life to her royal duty.
The Royal Family
The royal family’s official website now carries the message: “Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022” along with the official statement issued by Buckingham Palace.
A statement on the site says: “The official website of the Royal Family is temporarily unavailable while appropriate changes are made.”
Tribute expected from new Prime Minister Liz Truss
Staff have carried a podium onto Downing Street after Buckingham Palace broke the news of the Queen’s death.
Prime Minister Liz Truss is expected to pay tribute to the nation’s longest-reigning monarch outside No 10.
‘Selfless and wise'
Former prime minister Sir John Major said: “For 70 years Her Majesty The Queen devoted her life to the service of our nation and its wellbeing.
“In her public duties she was selfless and wise, with a wonderful generosity of spirit. That is how she lived – and how she led.
“For millions of people – across the Commonwealth and the wider world – she embodied the heart and soul of our nation, and was admired and respected around the globe.
“At this moment of deep sadness, I believe we all stand hand in hand with the royal family as they grieve the loss of one so loved.
“For we have all lost someone very precious to us and, as we mourn, we should be grateful that we were blessed with such an example of duty and leadership for so very many years.”
‘We will miss her beyond measure'
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the Queen’s death is a “terrible loss for us all”, adding: “We will miss her beyond measure.”
He said: “For all of us, the Queen has been a constant presence in our lives – as familiar as a member of the family, yet one who has exercised a calm and steadying influence over our country. Most of us have never known a time when she was not there. Her death is not only a tragedy for the royal family, but a terrible loss for us all.
“During her 70 years on the throne – and even before that, as a teenager, reassuring and engaging with children and families disrupted by the Second World War – she has given our lives a sense of equilibrium.
“While her reign has been marked by dramatic changes in the world, Her Majesty has maintained her unwavering devotion to the UK, the British Overseas’ Territories and the Commonwealth of Nations – and her gentle authority and sound reason have been felt throughout.
“She has travelled the world extensively, modernised the royal family and is credited with inventing the royal ‘walkabout’, which enabled her to meet people from all walks of life during her visits.
“As head of state, she has provided advice and the benefit of long experience to 15 prime ministers during her reign – and met more than a quarter of all the American presidents in the history of the US.
“The Queen has been involved in everything that is important to us and which makes us who we are – from state occasions to royal weddings, and especially at Christmas, with her wise words and reflective annual message. She has been a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – but she has been our Queen, and we will miss her beyond measure.”
Balmoral
Queen Elizabeth II pictured ahead of receiving new Prime Minister Liz Truss on Tuesday, September 6. For the first time, the Queen accepted a resignation from a Prime Minister (Boris Johnson) and met with the new incumbent at her Balmoral residence. Picture: Getty Images.
Liz Truss speaks at Downing Street
Prime Minister Liz Truss stepped out of No 10 and to the podium on Downing Street at 7.07pm, dressed in black, to address the nation following the Queen’s death.
Dozens of reporters have gathered outside, facing the door of No 10.
Ms Truss was appointed as Prime Minister by the Queen at Balmoral only two days ago.
She said: “We are all devastated by the news that we have just heard from Blamoral.
“The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.”
A lifetime of hard work and dedication to a number of great causes
Queen Elizabeth II smiles during a visit to officially open the new building at Thames Hospice in July 2022. Picture: Getty Images.
‘Our country’s saddest day'
Former prime minister Boris Johnson said the death of the Queen would leave a “void” and “this is our country’s saddest day”.
“As is so natural with human beings, it is only when we face the reality of our loss that we truly understand what has gone,” he said.
“It is only really now that we grasp how much she meant for us, how much she did for us, how much she loved us.
“As we think of the void she leaves, we understand the vital role she played, selflessly and calmly embodying the continuity and unity of our country.
“We think of her deep wisdom, and historic understanding, and her seemingly inexhaustible but understated sense of duty.
“Relentless though her diary must have felt, she never once let it show, and to tens of thousands of events – great and small – she brought her smile and her warmth and her gentle humour – and for an unrivalled 70 years she spread that magic around her kingdom.
“This is our country’s saddest day because she had a unique and simple power to make us happy. That is why we loved her.
“That is why we grieve for Elizabeth the Great, the longest serving and in many ways the finest monarch in our history.”
King Charles III
Clarence House has confirmed that the Prince of Wales will now be known as King Charles III, following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Picture: Getty Images.
