In his first statement as monarch, Prince Charles pays tribute to his mother.
"Today the crown passes, as it has done for more than 1,000 years, to our new monarch — our new head of state — His Majesty King Charles III," UK Prime Minister Liz Truss said shortly after the Queen's death was announced.
Queen Elizabeth II is survived by Charles, her other three children, Andrew, Anne, and Edward, as well as grandchildren including Prince William, who is now second in line to the throne, and Prince Harry, who lives in the United States. Her 73-year-old husband, Prince Philip, died in 2021 at the age of 99.
Queen Elizabeth II, one of the world's most respected heads of state, was born the first daughter of King George VI in 1926 and became the United Kingdom's monarch at the age of 25 following her father's death, with her coronation taking place in 1953.
She served for 70 years, seeing 15 Prime Ministers come and go, as well as historical events such as the Suez Canal scandal, the UK miners' strike, the Gulf Wars, Britain's entry and exit from the European Union, and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. Liz Truss traveled to meet her at Balmoral earlier this week so the Queen could formally ask her to form her new government — a key British constitutional act.
She succeeded Queen Victoria as the United Kingdom's longest-serving monarch in September 2015, and she is the world's second longest-serving monarch after France's Louis XIV.
Following Queen Elizabeth II's death at Balmoral Castle on Thursday afternoon, Charles, 73, took the throne immediately. She was 96 years old. Clarence House has confirmed that the new King's official name will be King Charles III.
In his first statement as monarch, Prince Charles paid tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
"The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a time of deep sorrow for me and all members of my family," the statement said.
"We are deeply saddened by the death of a beloved Sovereign and Mother. I know her passing will be felt deeply throughout the country, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, as well as by countless people worldwide. During this time of mourning and transition, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by the knowledge that The Queen was held in such high regard and affection."
