King Charles III Makes First Public Speech After Queen Elizabeth II's Passing

On Friday afternoon, King Charles III made his first public speech to address the mourning country and the world after Her Majesty the Queen passed away.

On Thursday, September 8, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96.

At 1:30 PM ET, The Royal Family released a statement that read, “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 King and his wife Camilla, Queen Consort, did indeed head to Buckingham Palace on Friday morning as they waved to crowds of mourning citizens. At around 1 PM ET on Friday, September 9, King Charles III made his first address to the world.

King Charles III began his speech with praise for the Queen as a mother before expressing his "deep gratitude" for her 70 years of service on the throne.

“I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow," he began. "Throughout her life, Her Majesty the Queen, my beloved mother was an inspiration and example to me and my family and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding, and example.”

He said that she made personal sacrifices for her country and said that the respect that she acquired became the "hallmark" of her reign. King Charles paid tribute to his mother's memory and honored her life of service, adding that he shares her sense of loss "beyond measure" with the world.

"Our values have remained and will remain constant," he said, before adding that his faith is still "deeply rooted" in the Church of England, which has granted him a foundational sense of duty that he will carry with him as he begins his new role as King.

He admitted that his life "will change" as he takes up his new responsibilities and confessed that he will have to take a step back from his charities in order to focus on his new role as King, but trusted that the work will carry on through others.

He then thanked his wife Camilla for her years of public service before he addressed his wife as Queen Consort. He also stated that Prince William will succeed him as the Duke of Cornwall and is named Prince of Wales, bestowing new titles to his heirs.

He also expressed his "love" for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they "continue to live their lives overseas."

As they prepare to lay the Queen to rest, King Charles III offered his "sincere and heartfelt thanks" for the outpouring of condolences and support that The Royal Family has received since her passing.

“Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years,” he said as he ended his speech. “May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Many of his comments made on Friday about mourning Her Majesty echoed sentiments that he shared in a public statement shared hours after her passing on Thursday.

Only a few hours after Queen Elizabeth II had passed away, King Charles III shared a statement of grief and mourning on his social media account.

“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," the message began.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother," it continued. "I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

The statement concluded: “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.”