King Charles III gave his first speech as sovereign on Friday, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The following is a transcript of his remarks, released by the palace.
I speak to you today with deep grief.
Throughout her life, the Queen – my beloved Mother – has been an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most sincere debt any family has. may owe their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding, and example.
Queen Elizabeth’s is a good life; a promise to fate is kept and she is mourning her death most deeply. That promise of lifelong service I renew with all of you today. Along with the personal pain that all my family is feeling, we also share with so many of you in the UK, in all the countries where the queen is head of state, in Commonwealth and throughout the world, a profound gratitude for the more than seventy years my mother, as queen, has served the people of so many nations.
In 1947, on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a Cape Town to Commonwealth broadcast to dedicate her life, short or long, to serving the peoples of me. It wasn’t just a promise: it was a deeply personal commitment that defined her entire life.
She sacrificed herself for duty. Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss. In her life of service, we found that a love of tradition, coupled with a fearless embrace of progress, made us great as Nations. The affection, admiration and respect she inspired became the hallmarks of her reign. And, as every member of my family can attest, she combined these qualities with warmth, humor, and a tireless ability to always see the best in people.
I pay tribute to my Mother and I honor her life of service. I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you, and I share that sense of loss, immeasurable, with all of you.
When the queen ascended the throne, England and the world were still dealing with the hardships and consequences of World War II, and still living by the conventions of the earlier times. During the past seventy years, we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many beliefs. The institutions of the State have changed in turn. But, through all the changes and challenges, our nation and the great family of Realms – with talents, traditions and achievements of which I am immensely proud – have prospered and grown. Our values remain, and must remain constant.
The role and duties of the Monarchy also remain, as do the Sovereignty’s specific relationship and responsibility to the Church of England – the Church in which my faith is deeply rooted. With that belief, and the values it inspires, I was raised to cherish a sense of responsibility to others, and to have the highest respect for the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of others. our unique history and parliamentary system of government.
As the queen herself has done with that unwavering devotion, I now solemnly pledge myself, for the rest of the time God gives me, to uphold Constitutional principles at the heart. of our country. And wherever you may live in the UK, or in the UK and territories around the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I will try to serve you. you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have had all my life.
Of course, my life will change as I take on my new responsibilities. I will no longer be able to devote much of my time and energy to charities and issues that I deeply care about. But I know this important work will be done in the trusted hands of others.
This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my beloved wife, Camilla. In recognition of her own faithful service since our marriage seventeen years ago, she became my queen. I knew she would bring to the demands of her new role the unwavering devotion to duty that I had come to trust so much.
As my Heir, William now assumes Scottish titles that mean a lot to me. He succeeded me as Duke of Cornwall and assumed the duties for the Principality of Cornwall that I had assumed for more than five decades. Today, I am proud to make him the Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, country to which I have had the great honor to bear the title during my life and duty. With Catherine by my side, I know, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginalized to the heart of where they can be. offer important help.
I also want to express my love to Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad. In a little more than a week, we will come together as a nation, as a Commonwealth and indeed as a global community, to put my beloved mother in peace. Vacation. In our sorrow, let us remember and draw strength from the light of her mirror.
On behalf of my entire family, I can only extend my sincerest and most sincere thanks for your condolences and support. They mean more to me than I can express.
And to my dear Mom, as I embark on my last wonderful journey to join my late beloved Father, I just want to say this: Thank you, Mom. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and the families of the nations you have served so diligently all these years.
May the “flights of the Angels sing you for your rest.”
