King Charles III on September 12 gave his first speech in Parliament as Britain’s monarch during which he pledged to follow in the footsteps of his ‘darling late mother’ and carry on the legacy of selfless duty of Queen Elizabeth II in upholding “the precious principles of constitutional governance”.
The House of Commons and Lords offered condolences to the new King at Westminster Hall in London. Queen Elizabeth passed away, aged 96 in Scotland, on September 8.
“While very young, her late Majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation,” said King Charles. “This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty, which, with God’s help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow,” Charles said.
Around 900 members of Parliament and peers had attended this stage of the constitutional ritual of State Mourning, as they pledged loyalty to the 73-year-old monarch.
After the condolence ceremony, the King left for the Scottish capital with Queen Consort Camilla to lead a royal procession behind the coffin of the late Queen as it makes its journey from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburg.
