King Charles to address the nation after Queen’s death
Our new monarch will address the world following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, in what will be his first speech as king. Watch live.
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King Charles will address the nation on Friday local time his spokesman said, his first speech following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
It comes after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released a heartfelt tribute to the late monarch.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex changed their Archewell website to black background writing: “In loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 1926-2022.”
Users were prevented from accessing any other part of the website as a mark of respect.
A visibly sombre Prince Harry was pictured in a car on his way to Balmoral with his head in his hands as the Queen’s death was publicly announced.
Wearing a dark suit and tie, Prince Harry was driven to Balmoral from Aberdeen Airport after arriving in Scotland behind the rest of family.
The Duke of Sussex flew to Scotland alone after leaving Ms Markle behind in England, while Prince William arrived earlier with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
The Sussexes children now become Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Under protocols established by King George V, The Queen’s grandfather, the children and grandchildren of a sovereign have the automatic right to the title HRH and prince or princess, according to The Sun.
Prince Harry’s dash to visit the Queen came as King Charles paid tribute to his “beloved” mother, the Queen, who died early this morning local time at the age of 96.
“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,” King Charles said in a statement.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother,” he said.
“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.”
The Queen died “peacefully” with her beloved family at her bedside.
Other senior royals have also swapped their social media profile photos for official crests to honour Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Family’s social media profile now bears the United Kingdom’s royal coat of arms.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, have updated their social media handles and have notably added Cornwall to their bio – a title which was previously held by the former Prince Charles and Camilla.
On a sombre, soggy, Thursday afternoon local time her children and grandchildren dashed from around Britain to Scotland’s Balmoral Castle to say goodbye to the Monarch venerated around the world for her duty, dignity and decency in her 70-year reign.
After a gradual deterioration in her health since entering her final decade, HRH spent the last few hours “comfortable” with trusted doctors at her side.
At precisely 5.15pm (2.15am AEST) – a little over one hour before the palace confirmed the news she had died – at 6.35pm (3.35am AEST), The Red Arrows had streaked across the sky with their trademark red, white and blue smoke.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
Britain’s incumbent Prime Minister, Liz Truss, who had only met with the Queen on Tuesday, paid tribute to the monarch in a statement.
“The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world,” Ms Truss said.
“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.
“Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.
“Britain is the great country it is today because of her. She ascended the throne just after the Second World War. She championed the development of the Commonwealth – from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.
“We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation.”
“Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed,” Ms Truss said.
“She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure. She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch.
“It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.”
US President Joe Biden said he mourned the passing of the Queen, calling her a “stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy” who deepened the alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom, and whose “legacy will loom large”.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era,” the Bidens said.
A statement from His Majesty The King: pic.twitter.com/AnBiyZCher
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
“In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth.
“The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.”
And while the Queen’s family steeled themselves and fought back tears to say goodbye so, too, did her subjects, stunned by the news their stoic head of state, who has stood for stability, has gone at a great time of great economic uncertainty in a country that had three days earlier acquired a new prime minister, Ms Truss.
There were just two announcements from the palace.
“The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” came at 12.32pm.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon local time.
“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” was the final notice issued at 6.30pm.
Now Charles will be king. Princess Anne, Prince Andrew the Duke of York and Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex, will kiss his hands.
Earlier, a Range Rover being driven by Prince William and carrying Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Edward’s wife Sophie arrived at Balmoral Castle as concerns around the Queen’s health gathered pace around the world.
Prince William was not accompanied to Balmoral by his wife, Kate, who stayed at home in Windsor as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all started back at school earlier this week.
A flight carrying seven members of the royal family including Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex landed at Aberdeen.
The flight landed at 4pm local time (1am AEST) in foggy conditions. From there the royals travelled 72 km in a cavalcade of cars to the castle.
Prince Charles and Camilla were already by the Queen’s bedside.
Prince Harry, who was in the UK on a tour, also travelled to Balmoral, a spokesman confirmed.
A statement from Buckingham Palace:https://t.co/2x2oD289nL
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, reportedly stayed behind in London.
Earlier, Buckingham Palace, in a rare and sombre statement, announced that the Queen was under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health.
A Palace spokesman 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.”
Buckingham Palace’s statement only furthered concerns around the severity of the Queen’s condition.
“The palace has gone further than they ever normally do,” says the BBC’s medical editor, Fergus Walsh.
He said the key phrase in the statement released by Buckingham Palace earlier, was “doctors were concerned”.
He also highlighted the significance of family members arriving at Balmoral, where the Queen has been staying over the summer.
Until recently, her health had been “relatively robust” he explained.
A rainbow has appeared opposite Buckingham Palace over crowds hoping for better news on the Queen’s health @itvnewspic.twitter.com/UsE0CM0siP
— Romilly Weeks (@romillyweeks) September 8, 2022
He described the monarch as a “permanent fixture”, adding that “we’ve all lived our lives with the Queen”.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, offered his prayers: “May the blessings of the Lord strengthen and comfort her and her family.”
The mood was gloomy at Balmoral as well-wishers gathered at the gates.
The Queen had been on her annual summer stay in the Highlands since July.
Crowds also gathered at Buckingham Palace throughout the day.
BBC One suspended its regular programming to focus coverage on the Queen’s health.
For the Palace to issue a statement about the Queen’s health – and without any reference only to her mobility issues – was rare since it does not make running commentaries.
The Queen appeared frail yet jovial when she met the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Tuesday, just two days before her death, sealing the transition of power from Boris Johnson.
The following day she postponed a virtual Privy Council meeting with doctor’s revealing she was not under any supervision but needed “to rest”.
The Queen was seen for the first time in public this week when she appeared fragile in photographs with Ms Truss.
Royal fans were delighted to see the monarch, who appeared considerably frailer than in the past and using a walking stick.
The Queen broke with tradition for the first time in her 70-year reign when she elected to appoint the new Prime Ministers at her Scottish residence instead of from Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, amid concerns for her ongoing mobility problems.
Leaning on a walking stick, Her Majesty smiled as she greeted the new PM for the traditional “kissing of the hands” ceremony.
The Queen had been spending more time out of the limelight recently and resting on doctors’ orders amid what has carefully been described by the palace as ongoing “mobility issues.”
Her attendance had in recent months only been confirmed on the day of the event.
In October, a trip to Northern Ireland was scrapped after the Queen spent a night in hospital for “preliminary investigations.”
She also did not attend the Festival of Remembrance and then the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph service due to a sprained back.
HRH bowed out of the traditional Maundy Thursday and Easter Mattins church services.
Crowds cheered in June when she made an appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. She did not make an appearance at her beloved Braemar Gathering, a popular Highland Games event which was held in Scotland over weekend.
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