Queen Elizabeth’s death and King Charles’ accession

Our live coverage has ended for the day. Read more for updates on Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral plans here and King Charles III’s accession to the throne here.

The Queen was at the Balmoral Castle, her Scottish country home, when she died on Thursday. Her funeral will be held in London and she will be buried in Windsor.

On Saturday, Buckingham Palace released some of the details of how this last cross-country journey of the late monarch will look like.

Here’s what to expect:

Billions of banknotes and coins around the world featuring the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II are set to be replaced following her death.

For almost 70 years, the Queen’s image has appeared on the United Kingdom’s coins, with different portraits of her profile as she aged. She was featured on the nation’s banknotes for more than 60 years, the first British monarch to do so. Her portrait also features on the currency of several countries that were formerly under British rule.

Since 1953, one year after the Queen took the throne, UK coins have borne five different versions of her portrait. She appeared on the country’s banknotes starting in 1960.

But now, the Bank of England, which prints the country’s banknotes, and the Royal Mint, which makes its coins, face the sizable task of withdrawing that currency from circulation and replacing it with money bearing the portrait of King Charles III.

There are more than 4.7 million banknotes in circulation in the UK, worth a collective 82 billion pounds ($95 billion), according to the central bank. There are also around 29 billion coins circulating, the Royal Mint said.

The new money is likely to be introduced gradually and will coexist as legal tender with the old notes and coins for a period of time.

A similar phase-in happened in 2017, when the Royal Mint began issuing a new 12-sided 1 pound coin. The new coin circulated at the same time as the old round-shaped coin for six months before the latter lost its status as legal tender.

But it’s not just cash that will require a makeover. The UK faces a mammoth operation to change the royal insignia on thousands of post boxes and newly issued passports.

Read more here:

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: A photo illustration of British paper £50 banknotes, alongside the polymer replacement, that will soon be taken out of circulation, June 28, 2022 in London, England. The Bank of England will withdraw legal tender status of paper £20 and £50 banknotes after 30 September 2022. The majority of paper £20 and £50 banknotes have been replaced with the recently issued polymer versions, but there are still more than £6bn of paper £20 notes, and more than £8bn of paper £50 banknotes, in circulation. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)

Related article There are more than 4.7 million banknotes in the UK with the queen's face on them. They will all be replaced

King Charles III during his first audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace on Friday, September 9.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss will join King Charles III next week as he leads “services of reflection” for the late Queen in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, according to Downing Street. 

Truss will travel with the King to all three nations, beginning with Scotland on Monday, followed by Northern Ireland on Tuesday and Wales on Friday.

A Downing Street spokesperson told the UK’s PA Media news agency that the prime minister “believes it is important to be present for what will be a significant moment of national mourning around the United Kingdom.”

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her son, Charles, immediately became King.

Here’s what we know about the British royal family’s line of succession.

King Charles III

Born: Nov. 14, 1948

What to know: Charles was the longest serving British monarch-in-waiting; he’s been the heir apparent since the age of 3.

Before he became King, he was president of The Prince’s Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and president or patron of more than 400 charitable organizations. Charles was also the first royal heir to earn a university degree.

More key relatives: Diana, Princess of Wales, to whom he was married from 1981 to 1996. They had two children together: Princes William and Harry.

Diana died in 1997 following a car accident in Paris, along with boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.

In 2005, Charles married Camilla, now the Queen Consort.

Prince William

Born: June 21, 1982

What to know: Prince William, King Charles’s older son, is now heir apparent. The King also bestowed the title of Prince of Wales on William on Friday. William and his wife Kate have taken on the additional titles of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, which were previously held by Charles and Camilla.

William has achieved the highest educational degree – master of arts – of any member of the royal family. He served in the military from 2006 to 2013, participating in more than 150 helicopter search and rescue operations.

More key relatives: Catherine, Duchess of Cornwall, whom he married in 2011. The couple have three children together: Prince George, 9; Princess Charlotte, 7; and Prince Louis, 4.

The family live in Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom property in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire, about 25 miles from London. Their London residence, Kensington Palace, will remain the family’s principal residence, however, a royal source told CNN in August.

Prince George

Born: July 22, 2013

What to know: If all goes as planned and Prince George becomes King following the reigns of his grandfather Prince Charles and his father Prince William, George – now second in line – will be the 43rd monarch since William the Conqueror.

But for now, he’s still brushing up on his education: George currently attends Lambrook School near Windsor along with his younger sister, Princess Charlotte and his younger brother, Prince Louis.

View more here.

A royal source has revealed the reason why the Prince of Wales, William, invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, on a walkabout at Windsor Castle a short time ago.

William, the source said, thought it was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family.

CNN understands Prince William reached out to the Sussexes shortly before the walkabout to extend the invitation, according to a source.

From left, Catherine, the Princess of Wales; Prince William; Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex; and Prince Harry look at floral tributes as they walk outside Windsor Castle on Saturday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, spent about 45 minutes engaging with crowds of well-wishers and viewing floral tributes in Windsor, before leaving in the same car. 

The couples spoke to members of the public, accepted flowers and even gave some hugs during the walkabout.

William could be heard thanking people offering their condolences, reading a letter from a little girl out loud, petting dogs and receiving floral bouquets.

Meghan was pictured giving a teenage girl a hug.  

Prince Harry told the crowd outside Windsor Castle that Queen Elizabeth’s presence can still be felt everywhere in the castle.

“She was a great granny,” he added. 

Prince William and Prince Harry and their wives Kate and Meghan greeted crowds in Windsor paying tribute to the Queen.

Prince William walks with his brother, Prince Harry, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, on Saturday.

The Prince of Wales invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join him and his wife, Catherine, to view floral tributes in Windsor earlier, a source told CNN.

CNN understands Prince William reached out to the Sussexes shortly before the walkabout.

The joint appearance of the two couples came as a surprise, after months of speculation about a rift within the family.

The joint appearance of Princes William and Harry and their wives Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, came as a surprise and was not announced in advance.

CNN’s Royal Correspondent Max Foster said the reunion — after a turbulent two years that saw Harry and Meghan step back as members of the royal family — was “a huge moment.”

This marked the first time the public has seen the two brothers together since the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. They did not interact publicly during that event.

“There was this ongoing tension between Harry and William. I don’t know if that is resolved, but it is resolved enough to the extent where they are able to come out and appear in public. It is a huge moment. This will go down incredibly well at the public,” he added.

From left, Catherine, the Princess of Wales; Prince William; Prince Harry; and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, walk outside Windsor Castle on Saturday.

The moment Prince William and Prince Harry walked outside Windsor Castle on Saturday marked the first time the public has seen the two brothers together since the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

William and Harry were joined by their wives Catherine and Meghan. The four viewed some of the tributes to the Queen left by the gates of the castle and then proceeded to greet members of public.

Watch it here:

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The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, are currently walking around the memorials to the Queen in Windsor.

An overhead view of Westminster Abbey in 2021.

Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral will be at Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 19 at 6 a.m. ET, the Earl Marshal of Buckingham Palace announced.

The arrangements will include a four-day lying in state at Westminster Hall — the oldest part of the Abbey — starting on Sept. 14.

The Queen’s coffin will be taken by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Sunday and will take a six-hour journey by hearse to allow mourners to pay their respects.

On Monday, the coffin will then go in procession to St Giles’s Cathedral, where it will lie at rest until Tuesday.

It will then be flown to Buckingham Palace before arriving at Westminster Hall, where the Queen will lie in state until the morning of her funeral.

The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held in London at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday.

The late monarch’s coffin will lie in state in Westminster Hall starting on Wednesday, giving the public an opportunity to pay their respects.

The Queen died at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday, and preparations are currently being made for her remains to be transported back to London.

In this photo from June, Queen Elizabeth II joins Prince William; his wife, Catherine; and their three children -- George, Charlotte and Louis -- on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

William, Prince of Wales, paid tribute to the late Queen, his grandmother, for the “wisdom and reassurance” she gave him. 

His wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, “had twenty years of her guidance and support,” he said in the statement, which struck a personal tone.

His three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, “have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives,” he said. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon take part in a ceremony to proclaim the accession of King Charles III on Saturday.

King Charles III has been proclaimed Canada’s new head of state during an accession ceremony in Ottawa on Saturday.

As the new King, Charles automatically became the head of state of 15 countries, including the UK.

The ceremony at the Rideau Hall in Ottawa was held following the formal proclamation of the King as the new sovereign at events in London and was attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon.

As part of the proceedings, Trudeau signed the order-in-council and the proclamation for the accession in the presence of Simon at the same table used by Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, during her first official visit to Canada in October 1957.

The proclamation was followed by a 21-gun salute. 

King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, meet with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

King Charles III held an audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in the 1844 Room of Buckingham Palace on Saturday afternoon. 

The 1844 Room, named to commemorate the 1844 visit by Russian Emperor Nicholas I, is used by the royal family to meet important guests.

It is where the Queen met the Japanese Emperor Akihito in 2007 and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in 2018. She also recorded several of her traditional Christmas messages there.

The Archbishop was present this morning for the the Accession Council to sign the proclamation of Charles III as King.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the leader of the Church of England, of which Charles is now the Supreme Governor of the church.

The King was also expected to hold audiences with the Dean of Westminster, the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, as well as leaders of opposition political parties on Saturday afternoon. 

Members of the royal family in Balmoral, dressed in black, waved to crowds at the gates of the estate in Scotland on Saturday afternoon following their return from a private church service.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and the late Queen’s second-oldest son, embraced his daughter Princess Eugenie as she shed a tear after a walkabout with the public.  

The Duke of York thanked members of the public for coming, as the royal family was greeted by people waving, applauding and laying floral tributes in honor of the Queen.

Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex and the late Queen’s youngest son, also thanked well-wishers who came from both near and far away. 

“Thank you very much for coming all that way, we appreciate it,” Prince Edward said when he heard one group had traveled from Glasgow to show their support, PA reported.

The UK’s PA Media news agency contributed reporting to this post.

Prince Andrew, right, gestures to the public as members of the royal family look at the floral tributes outside the gates of Scotland's Balmoral Castle on Saturday.

Members of the royal family have returned to Balmoral estate following a private church service at nearby Crathie Kirk in Scotland. 

The royal family then did a walkabout with members of the public on the road leading to Balmoral estate. 

The royals who attended the short service include many of the late Queen’s children and grandchildren, including Princess Anne, her husband Tim Laurence, and her children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips. 

Prince Andrew, the late Queen’s second-oldest son, and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also attended, as did her youngest son Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, along with his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and their daughter Lady Louise.

A CNN producer on the ground saw the walkabout and the cars with the royals return to the estate around 9:30 a.m. ET. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences “on behalf of 1.3 billion Indians” to the United Kingdom following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.  

“The two agreed on the vital importance of the UK-India relationship and looked forward to meeting in person in the near future,” Downing Street added.

Members of the royal family were expected to leave Balmoral estate around 2 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) to drive to nearby Crathie Kirk for a private service, according to the Royal Head of Communications at Balmoral. 

The church, just outside the gates to Balmoral, was expected to hold a service at 2:20 p.m. local time (9:20 a.m. ET) that will last about 25 minutes. 

The Balmoral Head of Communications would not comment on which members of the royal family were in attendance, but a CNN producer on the ground saw a car with Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice depart the estate to attend the service shortly after 9 a.m. ET.

An employee of Bonhams Auctioneers adjusts a print by Andy Warhol of Queen Elizabeth II.

As the British historian David Cannadine once noted, the Queen was “probably the most visually depicted and represented individual ever to have existed across the entire span of human history.”

She reigned for so long that we can only hazard a guess as to the number of images there have been of her.

From 1950s society photographer Dorothy Wilding — who took the Queen’s accession photographs in 1952, and the Italian artist Pietro Annigoni, who painted two portraits of her in the early years of her reign — to Andy Warhol and Lucien Freud, scores of world-famous artists have created pieces depicting the Queen.

But perhaps the real revolution in our perception of the Queen came from members of the press — and their telephoto lenses. They supplied some of the off-guard, more intimate walkabout moments.

The world was able to see her reacting in shock to the Windsor Castle fire in 1992, solemnly and quietly inspecting the sea of floral tributes to Princess Diana outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in 1997, and shedding a tear at her sister’s funeral in 2002.

Read more here.

The members of UK Parliament have taken their oath of allegiance to King Charles III in the House of Commons on Saturday afternoon.

Attendees of the ceremony included current British Prime Minister Liz Truss, the leader of the opposition Keir Starmer and former Prime Minister Theresa May.

Charles III was officially proclaimed the new King of the United Kingdom on Saturday. Here are some photos from the pageantry.

The UK's King Charles III speaks in the Throne Room at St. James's Palace during the Accession Council in London on Saturday. Joining him were his son Prince William and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort.

Camilla, the Queen Consort, signs an oath during the meeting of the Accession Council.

King Charles and Camilla attended the second section of the proclamation ceremony.

Former British prime ministers attend the ceremony at St. James's Palace on Saturday. In the front row, from left, are Theresa May and John Major, along with Baroness Patricia Scotland. In the second row are Gordon Brown, left, and Tony Blair. Behind them are David Cameron and Boris Johnson.

Members of the Coldstream Guards raise their hats as they salute the new King following his proclamation at St. James's Palace.

A 21-gun salute takes place at Cardiff Castle in Wales to mark the King's official proclamation.

People gather ahead of the City Proclamation at the Royal Exchange.

Congratulatory messages from around the world are pouring into London following the official proclamation of Charles III as the UK’s new King.

President of the European Council Charles Michel has wished the new British monarch “a successful and glorious reign.”

King Felipe VI of Spain sent this message:

Even the Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his wishes, saying: “Please accept my sincere congratulations on your accession to the throne. I wish Your Majesty success, good health and all the best.”

Putin’s message comes as he is waging a war against Ukraine, a conflict in which the United Kingdom stands firmly on the side of Kyiv.

The UK has sent weapons to Kyiv and provided military training to help the country defend itself against the unprovoked Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also wished Charles well.

“On behalf of all Londoners, I wish our new monarch King Charles III every success as His Majesty takes on this momentous responsibility,” Khan said in a tweet.

King Charles III has now been formally proclaimed as the UK’s new monarch. In his first public address as King on Friday, he paid tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth II, saying she had “a life well lived”:

Here’s a look at Queen Elizabeth’s life in numbers:

With 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth had 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She saw 15 UK Prime Ministers serve during her reign, as well as 14 US Presidents in office. 0 other British monarchs had served as long as her. She had visited more than 120 countries.

And now the more unusual stuff…

The Queen had a total of 78 bathrooms to choose from in Buckingham Palace and she had sat for over 200 portraits. There are 24 wax models of her at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, and she owned more than 30 corgis in her lifetime.

Read the full story here:

King Charles III greets supporters as he arrives at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

People packed into the walkways around Buckingham Palace to try and catch a glimpse of the newly proclaimed King Charles III on Saturday. 

Barriers were erected to keep the crowds on the sidewalks around The Mall – the road that leads from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square – and to clear the streets of spectators. An area for floral tributes to the late Queen is still open.

Around 10.15 a.m. local time (5.15 a.m. ET), the Buckingham Palace gates opened, and the household guards marched out around Victoria Monument, joining the band as they played marching songs en route to St. James’s Palace for the proclamation ceremony at 11 a.m.

Excited spectators stood on the railings and took out their phones to record the march.

The Calvary Artillery then marched on towards Hyde Park in time for the gun salutes. Minutes later, the booms could be heard from St. James’s Palace proclaiming the new King.

Pikemen of the Honourable Artillery Company, left, stand outside the Royal Exchange in the City of London, Saturday, September 10, before the reading of the Proclamation of Accession of King Charles III.

In the last hour, King Charles III was publicly proclaimed as the new monarch of the United Kingdom from the balcony above Friary Court, part of St. James’s Palace.

A Second Proclamation is now being read at Royal Exchange – in the heart of the financial district of the City of London – and further proclamations will be read out across the country, in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, tomorrow.  

Where is this happening?

The City, also known as the Square Mile, is the financial district of London and home to Bank of England headquarters. It is “the ancient core from which the rest of London developed” and has been a center for commerce and ceremony since the Roman period, according to the City of London website.

Camilla visits Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2017.

With her husband’s accession to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, Camilla has become Queen Consort and will take on a new and more prominent role alongside King Charles III.

Just over 25 years after the death of Charles’ first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, Camilla remains a divisive figure in Britain.

Here’s what you should know:

Born Camilla Shand in July 1947, she reportedly met Prince Charles at a polo match in Windsor in 1970 and they became friends.

The following year Charles joined the Royal Navy and, while he was away, Camilla married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles. The couple had two children during the 1970s.

In 1999, Clarence House embarked on a program to reintroduce Camilla to the public with a carefully orchestrated first appearance with Charles outside the Ritz Hotel in London. She moved into Clarence House to be with Charles and her name started appearing on official paperwork.

Their story reached its climax in 2005, when they were wed in Windsor, with the Queen’s consent. Camilla, now known as Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, was confirmed as Charles’ official consort and future queen of the United Kingdom.

Charles and Camilla after their wedding ceremony in 2005.

The duchess threw herself into life as a senior royal, supporting Charles on official engagements in the UK and on overseas tours, despite her deep fear of flying. She quickly became an asset for the royal family and British government with her common touch and ability to dissipate the tension in a room.

But over the years, attitudes towards Camilla have softened. In 2015, a CNN poll found that one in four Britons had grown to like her more and fewer people opposed her becoming known as queen.

Then, in February 2022, the Queen used the landmark milestone of her Platinum Jubilee to give her blessing for the Duchess of Cornwall to be known as queen when the time came. It was a hugely significant intervention from the monarch, the only person who can define royal titles.

Read the full story here.

Amid much ceremony, King Charles III was publicly proclaimed as the new UK monarch from the balcony above Friary Court, part of St. James’s Palace.

David Vines White is the Garter King of Arms, the senior official responsible for the heraldry of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He read the Principal Proclamation:

After the proclamation was read, state trumpeters situated below the balcony sounded the royal salute and a military band played the national anthem, God Save the King.

Watch: King Charles III publicly proclaimed as King.

A 21-gun salute is taking place at Hillsborough Castle, in Northern Ireland, to mark the formal proclamation of the King, according to the UK’s PA Media news agency.

PA reported that reservists from 206 Battery 105 Regiment Royal Artillery are firing the salute, and the Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker is in attendance.

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens will be closed on the day of the State funeral and will remain closed until the day after the funeral.

King Charles approved orders declaring the day of Queen Elizabeth’s State Funeral as a bank, or public, holiday in the United Kingdom. 

During the Privy Council on Saturday, King Charles approved two orders declaring the day of the Queen’s State Funeral as a bank holiday in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland respectively.

A gun salute is fired for at the Tower of London on Saturday.

Gun salutes for King Charles III are underway on Saturday morning in all four countries that make up the United Kingdom.

Following King Charles’ public proclamation as King, gun salutes have begun at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Cardiff Castle in Wales, Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, and the Tower of London and Hyde Park in England.

A trumpet fanfare and a display by guards mark King Charles’s imminent proclamation as he is about to be announced as monarch from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St. James’s Palace in London.

King Charles III speaks during the Accession Council at St. James's Palace, in London, on Saturday, September 10.

The pomp and pageantry around the formal declaration of Charles III as the United Kingdom’s new sovereign goes back hundreds of years.

The ceremony was conducted by the Accession Council, which only ever meets on the death of a British monarch. It is made up of members of the Privy Council, a formal advisory body to the King or Queen. That larger body is comprised of more than 700 prominent figures in British life, including senior politicians, senior civil servants and others.

Traditions of years gone by: The origins of the Accession Council are lost in the mists of time, but the first meeting of the current version took place in 1603 when King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in the union of the crowns between the two nations, which had previously been independent and bitter rivals.

Today’s event was led by Penny Mourdant, a British politician who is Leader of the House of Commons – a Cabinet position – who automatically also serves as the Privy Council’s Lord President. Charles was proclaimed King by the Clerk of the Council, Richard Tilbrook, after which Mourdant read out a series of orders for the proclamation to be read out by representatives of monarch and government around the constituent parts of the United Kingdom.

In an age before modern technology, this would have been the means by which important news was spread around the realm. She also made a series of “orders in council” to make the accession official.

The oath: Charles also took an oath to preserve the “security” of the Church of Scotland – a Presbyterian church that is separate from the Church of England – and relates to the time in 1707 when details of the of the union between Scotland and England were formalized.

King Charles III is about to be proclaimed publicly as King on the balcony overlooking Friars’ Court at St. James’s Palace in London.

The “Principal Proclamation” of King Charles III will be read by Garter King of Arms and a fanfare will be sounded.

The St. James’s Palace Detachment of The King’s Guard accompanied by a band is also present along with members of the public.

King Charles III speaks during the Accession Council at St. James's Palace, in London, on Saturday, September 10.

King Charles III has made his declaration at St James’s Palace.

He paid tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and spoke of the “great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of Sovereignty which have now passed to me.”

Here’s his speech in full:

My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen.

It is my most sorrowful duty to announce to you the death of my beloved Mother, The Queen.

I know how deeply you, the entire Nation - and I think I may say the whole world - sympathise with me in the irreparable loss we have all suffered. It is the greatest consolation to me to know of the sympathy expressed by so many to my Sister and Brothers and that such overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family in our loss.

To all of us as a family, as to this kingdom and the wider family of nations of which it is a part, my Mother gave an example of lifelong love and of selfless service.

My Mother’s reign was unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.

I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of Sovereignty which have now passed to me. In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these Islands and of the Commonwealth Realms and Territories throughout the world.

In this purpose, I know that I shall be upheld by the affection and loyalty of the peoples whose Sovereign I have been called upon to be, and that in the discharge of these duties I will be guided by the counsel of their elected parliaments. In all this, I am profoundly encouraged by the constant support of my beloved wife.

I take this opportunity to confirm my willingness and intention to continue the tradition of surrendering the hereditary revenues, including the Crown Estate, to My Government for the benefit of all, in return for the Sovereign Grant, which supports My official duties as Head of State and Head of Nation.

And in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of Almighty God.

King Charles paid tribute to his mother, the late Queen, in a speech during his proclamation saying: “Her reign was unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.”

The new King added: “In carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray to the guidance and help of almighty God.”

The monarch has now signed the oath, and witnesses including his son, Prince William, are adding their signatures to the document.

King Charles is making his declaration in the Throne Room of St. James’s Palace in London.

He announced the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and is now acknowledging his duties as sovereign.

King Charles III has been proclaimed King by the Accession Council, and those in the room joined to say “God save the King,” after which documents were signed.

Lord President Penny Mordaunt has detailed the next steps to the Proclamation, which include ordering the confirmation of the King’s accession to be read out around the country in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast – a throwback to a bygone age when the news of events like this would be spread throughout the land in that way.

She also gave the order for gun salutes to take place as soon as a Principal Proclamation is read at 11 a.m. local from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St. James’ Palace. 

These salutes are due to take place throughout the country, at Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle, Hillsborough Castle, the Tower of London and in Hyde Park.

Charles III has been proclaimed King by the Clerk of the Council during the Accession Council ceremony, which is currently taking place in London’s St. James’s Palace

The proclamation by Richard Tilbrook, Clerk of the Privy Council, was followed by the audience’s exclamation of “God save the King.”

The ceremony is being televised for the first time in history. 

The Accession Council ceremony in London’s St. James’s Palace that will officially proclaim Charles as King Charles III has now begun.

King Charles III is expected to hold audiences in Buckingham Palace with religious leaders and political leaders, including the British Prime Minister, on Saturday afternoon, according to a Palace statement.

The King will hold receive the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster, Buckingham Palace said. He will also receive the Prime Minister and Members of the Cabinet, as well as leaders of opposition political parties.

The new King will be officially proclaimed monarch earlier in the day, at the Accession Council at 10 a.m. in London (5 a.m. ET). The ceremony is set to take place in the state apartments of St. James’s Palace in the British capital and attended by Privy Councilors.

King Charles III on Friday delivered his first televised address to the nation as sovereign following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

You can read his full remarks here.

Here is a video of his full speech:

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King Charles III waves outside Buckingham Palace, on September 9.

King Charles III delivered his first public address as the new British monarch on Friday, just a day after ascending to the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

The new King will be formally proclaimed on Saturday. Here’s what we’re expecting to happen throughout the day.

Charles proclaimed King: The new King will be officially proclaimed monarch at the Accession Council at 10 a.m. in London (5 a.m. ET). The ceremony is set to take place in the state apartments of St. James’s Palace in the British capital and attended by Privy Councilors.

Proclamation: An hour later, a Principal Proclamation will be read at 11 a.m. local from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St. James’ Palace. 

“The Proclamation will be read by Garter King of Arms, accompanied by the Earl Marshal, other Officers of Arms and the Serjeants at Arms. This is the first public reading of the Proclamation,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

Royal gun salutes: Also at 11 a.m. local, gun salutes will take place throughout the country, at Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle, Hillsborough Castle, the Tower of London and in Hyde Park.

Second Proclamation: A Second Proclamation will be read at London’s Royal Exchange at 12 p.m. local. Further proclamations will be read out in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at 12 p.m local on Sunday.  

What else is expected to happen: King Charles III will also hold an audience with UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and her Cabinet on Saturday, Downing Street said in a statement. 

It will be Truss’ second audience with Charles following her audience at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

Queen Elizabeth II sits alongside one of her corgis in 1970.

When Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died on Thursday at the age of 96, she left behind not just her nation and family members but a gaggle of canine companions.

Throughout her long life, she was regularly photographed with a Welsh corgi at her feet – a dog breed that became synonymous with the monarch.

At the time of her passing, Queen Elizabeth is reported to have had four dogs.

According to the American Kennel Club, she had two Pembroke Welsh corgis, Muick and Sandy, as well as an older, mixed-breed “dorgi” called Candy. A cocker spaniel, Lissy, reportedly joined the gang in January this year.

The Queen was often credited with creating the dorgi breed when her corgi mated with a dachshund owned by her sister, Princess Margaret.

Joe Little, a royal biographer and managing editor of Majesty magazine, told CNN he believes the dogs will be cared for by royal staff before being adopted by Princess Anne and Prince Andrew.

“Princess Anne has had corgis of her own in the past,” he explained. “The two most recent additions came from the Duke of York and his daughters, so perhaps they could go to him. It’s unlikely that they’ll be split up.”

King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace, on Friday, September 9.

King Charles III delivered his first public address as the new British monarch on Friday, just a day after ascending to the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

He paid tribute to the Queen, saying she had “a life well lived”:

The speech was pre-recorded at Buckingham Palace earlier on Friday. Sitting behind a desk, with a picture of his mother displayed prominently to his left, Charles promised he would continue in her footsteps and serve his people:

He addressed his family, including his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort. He also said he wanted to “express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.” And he announced that his son William would be given the title Prince of Wales:

The King also noted in his speech that the UK now is much different than it was 70 years ago, and said he is devoted to his duty to the nation, as his mother was:

He ended on a personal note, with another message to the late Queen:

Visitors leave floral tributes outside Windsor Castle on September 9.

As a new era dawns in Britain, arrangements for a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II are underway. Her son, King Charles III, has asked for a period of Royal Mourning to be observed from Friday, Sept. 9, until seven days after the Queen’s funeral, according to a Buckingham Palace statement.

The date of the funeral will be confirmed “in due course,” the statement added. Here’s what you can expect to happen in the coming days.

Here are some of the answers to common questions:

How will the Queen’s coffin return to London?

The coffin will first leave Balmoral, the Queen’s Scottish rural retreat, for the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The property is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. It will then likely travel in procession to Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral where the Queen will lie in rest before being moved down to London.

We don’t yet know exactly how the coffin will travel south; routes are available by both rail and air.

How can the public pay their respects?

Historical precedent suggests that once in London, the Queen will likely lie in state at Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster. Past monarchs’ coffins have rested on a raised platform — or catafalque — in the middle of the hall, guarded around the clock by units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, Foot Guards or the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The coffin is likely to remain there for several days and it’s at this point that members of the public will be able to file past the platform and view the monarch’s coffin. Thousands are expected to queue, with some potentially sleeping out overnight in a bid to pay their respects.

What might the Queen’s funeral look like?

As monarch, Queen Elizabeth will automatically be granted a publicly funded state funeral. It will take place at Westminster Abbey sometime in the next two weeks, though the exact day will be confirmed in due course.

The abbey was founded in 960 AD by Benedictine monks, and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in London. It has often been the setting for royal milestone moments like coronations, weddings and funerals throughout the years.

We’re still a few days away from a guest list, but heads of state and dignitaries from around the world will likely make their way to the British capital to celebrate the Queen’s life and 70-year service to the nation. Other familiar faces will be some of the Queen’s 15 former prime ministers and senior lawmakers.

Read more.

Charles attends a meeting in Scotland, on September 7.

The new King will be formally proclaimed monarch on Saturday at the Accession Council, Buckingham Palace announced.

The ceremony is set to take place in the state apartments of St. James’s Palace in London and attended by Privy Councillors.

“The King will make his Declaration and read and sign an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland and approve Orders in Council which facilitate continuity of government,” the palace said.

What else is expected to happen: King Charles III will also hold an audience with UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and her Cabinet on Saturday, Downing Street said in a statement. 

It will be Truss’ second audience with Charles following her audience at Buckingham Palace on Friday.