Britain's King Charles sits at Westminster Hall, following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 12, 2022. (REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/Pool) Queen Elizabeth Death Updates: King Charles called parliament on Monday “the living and breathing instrument of our democracy”, addressing lawmakers and peers in Westminster Hall which he said offered connections to his mother, Queen Elizabeth. “Parliament is the living and breathing instrument of our democracy,” King Charles said before lawmakers and peers stood to sing the national anthem, news agency Reuters reported.
In his first official since Queen Elizabeth’s death, her grandson Prince Harry hailed her as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity. The personal statement, posted Monday on Harry and his wife Meghan’s Archwell website, said he cherished their times together “from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren.”
King Charles III will address Parliament for the first time as Britain’s monarch on Monday when he responds to the condolences offered by the House of Commons and Lords at Westminster Hall, PTI reported. Around 900 members of Parliament and peers are expected for this stage of the constitutional ritual of State Mourning, as they also pledge loyalty to the new sovereign. The 73-year-old monarch will then fly to Edinburgh with Queen Consort Camilla to lead a royal procession behind the late Queen’s coffin as it makes its journey from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral in the Scottish capital. Following a special service to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s life, the coffin will lie-at-rest at the cathedral for 24 hours to allow members of the public to pay their respects.
elizabethQueen Elizabeth II of Britain laying a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on November 18, 1983. (Express archive photo)
As Queen Elizabeth II's four children walked silently behind, a hearse carried her flag-draped coffin along a crowd-lined street in the Scottish capital Monday to a cathedral, where a service of thanksgiving hailed the late monarch as a “constant in all of our lives for over 70 years.”
Four days after the 96-year-old queen died at her beloved Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands, a military bagpiper played as her oak coffin, draped in the red-and-yellow Royal Standard of Scotland, was borne from the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh under late-summer sunshine.
King Charles III, dressed in army uniform, and Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walked behind as the hearse traveled to St. Giles’ Cathedral, flanked by a bearer party of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and a detachment of the Royal Company of Archers, the king's ceremonial bodyguard in Scotland. (AP)
A line has already started forming to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin when she lies in state in London, even though that won’t start till Wednesday evening.Security staff are preparing for millions of people to pay their respects to the late monarch, whose coffin will be in London’s Westminster Hall until her state funeral on September 19.
The line is expected to stretch from Parliament along the bank of the River Thames.Officials have advised commuters in the city to change their working patterns because London is expected to be extremely busy in coming days. (Reuters)
The royal invitation sent to the White House to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral was for President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden only, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday. Her statement suggested Biden would not be assembling a U.S. delegation to attend the Sept. 19 funeral in London. He is to depart for London on Saturday. (Reuters)
Queen Elizabeth II has been likened to the invisible glue holding the United Kingdom together. Some think the reign of King Charles III will see those bonds come unstuck, giving new momentum to Scotland's push for independence. But the fact the queen died last week at her beloved Highland retreat, Balmoral Castle, has made Scotland the focus of commemorations watched around the globe in the first days after her death.
That has served as a reminder of the monarchy's deep ties to Scotland — and could provide a boost for the union. Scottish historian Tom Devine said because by “extraordinary serendipity” the queen died in Scotland, “it was possible for the world to see the relationship between the queen and this country.” “It was a fitting end to a life of service and a life of concern for the four nations — not simply one nation — of the UK,” he said. (AP)
King Charles III and his three siblings marched behind their mother’s coffin Monday in a solemn procession along the Royal Mile in the historic heart of the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
A military bagpiper played the national anthem as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the royal standard, was carried from the Palace of Holyroodhouse and placed in a hearse. The king, dressed in an army uniform, and Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walked behind as the hearse rolled to St. Giles’ Cathedral.
The hearse was flanked by a bearer party of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and a detachment of The King’s Body Guard in Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers. The coffin will remain at the cathedral until Tuesday so members of the public can pay their respectEarlier, Charles and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, were driven from the airport to the palace, where the coffin lay overnight in the Throne Room. (AP)
King Charles arrived in Edinburgh on Monday to accompany his late mother’s coffin on an emotion-charged procession through the historic heart of the Scottish capital to a cathedral where it will lie for 24 hours to allow the public to pay their last respects.
Charles and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, were driven from the airport to the royal family's official residence in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where Queen Elizabeth II's coffin lay overnight in the Throne Room. On their way, they passed large crowds of people who were packed behind metal barriers along the Royal Mile, the road between Holyroodhouse and St. Giles' Cathedral.
Onlookers clapped and waved as the king's limousine passed.Charles and Camilla got out of their car at Holyroodhouse and greeted people, and looked at floral tributes before a gun salute boomed from Edinburgh Castle. Earlier, in London, Charles received condolences at Parliament and told lawmakers he would follow his late mother’s example of “selfless duty.” Earlier, Elizabeth II's grandson, Prince Harry, hailed her as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity.
"The government, meanwhile, announced that the nation will observe a minute of silence on Sunday, the evening before the queen's funeral. The “moment of reflection” will take place at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT). People were encouraged to mark the silence at home or at community events. (AP)
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Britain will on September 18 hold a national moment of reflection - a one minute silence - Prime Minister Liz Truss's spokesman said on Monday following the death of Queen Elizabeth last week.
The minute's silence will be held at 8pm (1900 GMT) on Sunday, ahead of the late queen's funeral on Monday. (Reuters)
King Charles III's plane on Monday took off from London to Scotland for taking part in procession of mother's coffin. (AP)
King Charles called parliament on Monday "the living and breathing instrument of our democracy", addressing lawmakers and peers in Westminster Hall which he said offered connections to his mother, Queen Elizabeth.
"Parliament is the living and breathing instrument of our democracy," King Charles said before lawmakers and peers stood to sing the national anthem.
"As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us, and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions, to which members of both Houses, dedicate yourselves with such personal commitment for the betterment of as all." (Reuters)
Britain's Prince Harry paid a highly personal tribute on Monday to his "granny", the late Queen Elizabeth, saying how he cherished the time he had spent with her and how he would honour his father as the new king. In a statement, Harry, who stepped down from royal duties with his wife Meghan in 2020, praised the queen's service as head of state and monarch, and also spoke emotionally of her role as a grandmother.
"I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over." He praised her "unwavering grace and dignity" and her commitment to duty, saying she was globally admired and respected.
"We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace," he said, a reference to her husband of 73 years Prince Philip who died last year. (Reuters)
King Charles will meet lawmakers in parliament in London on Monday before flying to Edinburgh to join his siblings in a solemn procession when the coffin of his mother Queen Elizabeth is taken to the city's historic cathedral. The new monarch will also join senior royals for a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral where the coffin will lie at rest before being flown to London on Tuesday.
Since Elizabeth's death aged 96 at Balmoral Castle, her Scottish holiday home, a choreographed series of plans to mourn Britain's monarch of 70 years has been put into operation. (AP)
In his first official since the death of Queen Elizabeth's death, her grandson Prince Harry hailed her as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity.
The personal statement, posted Monday on Harry and his wife Meghan's Archwell website, said he cherished their times together “from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren.” (AP)
King Charles III will address Parliament for the first time as Britain’s monarch on Monday when he responds to the condolences offered by the House of Commons and Lords at Westminster Hall, PTI reported. Around 900 members of Parliament and peers are expected for this stage of the constitutional ritual of State Mourning, as they also pledge loyalty to the new sovereign.
The 73-year-old monarch will then fly to Edinburgh with Queen Consort Camilla to lead a royal procession behind the late Queen’s coffin as it makes its journey from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral in the Scottish capital. Following a special service to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s life, the coffin will lie-at-rest at the cathedral for 24 hours to allow members of the public to pay their respects. (PTI)
Britain’s new monarch is named King Charles III — but that was not inevitable. Charles Philip Arthur George could have chosen another royal name when he took the throne after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. While the queen used her first given name, her father, King George VI, was named Albert Frederick Arthur George and called Bertie by friends and family.
Some observers thought the new king might prefer a different name because of the historical baggage associated with the two previous British monarchs called Charles. Read the full explainer here
The death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, at the age of 96 is being grieved by many people in the UK and around the world. She passed away at her Balmoral residence in Scotland on September 8, leading her son Charles to take the throne and become King Charles III. Amid all the cheering for the new monarch, people are also taking a moment to cherish the sweet details of the queen’s life, by closely following her funeral procession.
Queen Elizabeth‘s coffin began its final journey after it left Balmoral — her Scottish summer home — yesterday, September 11. It appeared to be draped in the Scottish royal standard, and a wreath made of dahlias, sweet peas, phlox, white heather, and pine fir was placed on top of the coffin as it was loaded onto a hearse. Read more
New Zealand has announced it will mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a public holiday on Sept 26. The nation will also hold a state memorial service in the capital, Wellington, on the same day. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Elizabeth was an extraordinary person and many people would appreciate the opportunity to mark her death and celebrate her life.
“As New Zealand's queen and much-loved sovereign for over 70 years, it is appropriate that we mark her life of dedicated public service with a state memorial service and a one-off public holiday,” Ardern said. She also said she would be leaving this week for Britain to attend Elizabeth's funeral. (AP)
Queen Elizabeth II’s death has highlighted many royal protocols that are initiated after the death of a monarch, in this case, the longest reigning one in the history of the British royal family.
The passing away of the queen at the age of 96 — after ruling and serving for 70 years — brought her mourning family together, too, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who had flown in just some days prior, along with the swift ascension of her son Charles to the throne, making him King Charles III. Read more
Following the passing of his mother Queen Elizabeth II at 96, King Charles III made his first address to the nation on Friday and paid tribute to his “darling wife’ Camilla. “I count on the loving help of my darling wife, Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort,” he said.
King Charles III, who was officially proclaimed as Britain’s new monarch on Saturday, added: “I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.” Read more