King Charles III has issued his first statement following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, describing it as 'a moment of the greatest sadness' for him and the Royal Family. The new monarch highlighted the 'respect and deep affection' in which the Queen was 'so widely held' across the nation and the Commonwealth.
The Queen died 'peacefully' on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral, ending her record-breaking reign of more than 70 years. In his written statement, Charles expressed profound mourning for 'a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother', acknowledging that her loss would be felt deeply worldwide.
Charles has chosen to reign as King Charles III, breaking with speculation that he might adopt the regnal name George VII. The title was confirmed by Clarence House and echoed by Prime Minister Liz Truss in her address outside Downing Street, where she declared the Crown's passage to 'His Majesty King Charles III'.
The new sovereign now leads the Royal Family into a period of court mourning, the length of which will be decided by him and published in the London Gazette. Historical precedents range from 16 weeks after George VI's death to a full year following Queen Victoria's passing.
