By Enyichukwu Enemanna
King Charles III on Friday delivered his first address since assuming the throne of King of England following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II who joined her ancestors on Thursday.
While paying tribute to his departed mother, the king in his pre-recorded address, broadcasted at 6 p.m. local time, said Queen Elizabeth left a historic legacy of service which will inspire his own reign, praising the Queen for being an inspiration and example to him.
The 73–year-old new sovereign said, “I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow.”
King Charles while speaking from Buckingham Palace with a photo of Queen Elizabeth beside him continued, “Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example. Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing.
“That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.”
While saying that he and his family share in the world’s grief, he also pointed to the collective “deep sense of gratitude” for Her Majesty’s record-breaking reign.
“In 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life,” Charles said. “She made sacrifices for duty. Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never waivered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss.”
Pointing to the “fearless embrace of progress” his mother valued with “warmth, humor and an unerring ability always to see the best in people,” he noted, adding that Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne in the wake of World War II amid an uncertain future for democracy and freedom at large.
King Charles also announced that his wife Camilla would be known as Queen Consort, echoing the expressed wish made by Queen Elizabeth earlier this year. He also pronounced his eldest son, Prince William, as Prince of Wales.
“As my Heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me,” Charles said. “He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall which I have undertaken for more than five decades. Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty. With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.”
King Charles said of his son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle: “I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.”
Having assumed power as the head Church of England along with the crown, Charles said he took the religious responsibility with the utmost respect.
“In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government,” he explained.
“As The Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the Constitutional principles at the heart of our nation,” the new King continued. “And wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the Realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.”
