Prince Charles gave his first public address as the King of England and the British Commonwealth on Friday.
“I speak to you today with feelings of deep sorrow,” the 73-year-old monarch said in a pre-recorded message, calling Elizabeth “an inspiration and example” for himself and his family members.
“We owe her the most sincere debt a family could owe to their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example,” Charles continued. “Queen Elizabeth’s life was a life well lived, a promise fate has kept and she is most mourned at her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to everyone today.”
The king praised the “deep personal devotion of his late mother that defined her whole life”, adding that “she made sacrifices of her duty”.
He said, “Her devotion and devotion never wavered through times of change, through progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sorrow and loss.”
King Charles III’s new title comes after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on September 8 at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace tweeted of Her Majesty, the longest reigning monarch in British history with 70 years on the throne.
“The King and Queen Consort remain in Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow.”
Charles responded to his mother’s death in an emotional message shared Thursday.
“The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” read a posted statement to the royal family’s social media accounts.
“We deeply mourn the passing of a beloved Sovereign and a dearly beloved Mother,” the statement continued. “I know her loss will be deeply felt across the country, the rich and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
“During this period of grief 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 held so widely.”
Charles is expected to embark on a UK tour in the days leading up to the Queen Mother’s funeral – part of the nation’s 10-step “Operation London Bridge” plan after death – as he takes the throne.
In March, sources told The Post that Buckingham Palace was preparing to join.
Around that time, other members of the royal family began planning future moves for when Charles became king.
“People have been a little more focused on transitioning since last fall with the Queen’s … fluctuating health,” said royal expert Joe Little, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine.
Little elaborated: “The transition has been planned behind the scenes for a number of years. unlike [the queen’s father] King George VI, who died sooner than expected and with not much preparation, this has been well mapped and orchestrated.”
Camilla Parker Bowles is also one of those in Elizabeth’s line of succession to take on a new title. The former Duchess of Cornwall is now the Queen Consort.
When Parker Bowles, 75, married Charles in 2005, she became Princess of Wales. However, Bowles never used the title out of respect for Charles’s beloved late wife, Princess Diana.
For years it was thought that Camilla would assume the title of princess consort when her husband ascended the throne, but in February 2022, Queen Elizabeth revealed that she would become queen consort.
“When my son Charles becomes king in time, I know that you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me,” she said at the time.
“And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
Elizabeth also shared Anne, Princess Royal, 72, the controversial Prince Andrew, 62, and Prince Edward, 58, with husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at the age of 99.