Queen Elizabeth II dies: King Charles III addresses Parliament
LONDON – In an address to Parliament, Britain’s King Charles III promised to continue Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy by upholding “the precious principles of constitutional governance.”
According to The Associated Press and The Guardian, the new monarch’s remarks came Monday at Westminster Hall after lawmakers offered their condolences for the late queen, who died Thursday at her Balmoral estate in Scotland. She was 96.
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“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 to the betterment of us all,” said Charles, 73, who described Parliament as “the living and breathing instrument of our democracy.”
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Charles – who spoke as wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, looked on – went on to praise his mother’s service, the news outlets reported.
“While very young, her late Majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people,” he said, according to CNN.
“This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty which, with God’s help and your counsel, I am resolved faithfully to follow.”
Following the address, the royal couple boarded a plane to Edinburgh, Scotland, according to The Guardian. There, Charles will lead a procession to St. Giles’ Cathedral, the AP reported.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort take part in an address in Westminster Hall on September 12, 2022, in London.
King Charles III makes an address in Westminster Hall at Houses of Parliament on September 12, 2022, in London.
Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss (right), Speaker of The Commons Lindsay Hoyle (second right) and Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort (center), listen as Britain’s King Charles III speaks during the Presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster, central London on September 12, 2022, in London.
Britain’s King Charles III, flanked by Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort, speaks during the Presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster, central London on September 12, 2022, in London.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort take part in an address in Westminster Hall on September 12, 2022, in London.
Britain’s King Charles III attends the Presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster, central London on September 12, 2022, in London.
Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle (center), King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort (front), make their way down the aisle as they take part in an address in Westminster Hall on September 12, 2022, in London.
Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort walk in the hall as they take part in the presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament as Camilla, Queen Consort, looks on in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster on September 12, 2022, in London.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, leave Westminster Hall after the Presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament on September 12, 2022, in London.
Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort, leave following the presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster on September 12, 2022, in London.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort leave the Palace of Westminster after the presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament on September 12, 2022, in London.
King Charles III takes part in an address as Camilla, Queen Consort looks on in Westminster Hall on September 12, 2022, in London.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort take part in an address in Westminster Hall on September 12, 2022, in London.
Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort, take part in the presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster on September 12, 2022, in London.
Yeomen of the Guard arrive in Westminster Hall at Houses of Parliament on September 12, 2022, in London.
Yeomen of the Guard march at the Palace of Westminster for the Presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament on September 12, 2022, in London.
Gentlemen at Arms arrive at the Palace of Westminster ahead of the Presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament on September 12, 2022, in London.
Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Britain’s Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Britain’s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, completes its journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, Duke of Wessex, and Princess Anne, Princess Royal, receive the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Palace of Holyroodhouse, where she will lie overnight and then be moved to St Giles Catherdral on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as the hearse arrives at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as the hearse arrives at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as the hearse arrives at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, where she will lie overnight and then be moved to St Giles Catherdral on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
The cortege carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II passes St Giles’ Cathedral on its way to Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Crowds watch the cortege carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II by Mercat Cross on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Crowds gather as the cortege carrying the Coffin Carrying Queen Elizabeth II passes over the King George VI bridge on its way from Balmoral to Edinburgh on September 11, 2022, in Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and leaders of the Scottish political parties join members of the public as the cortege with the hearse carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, passes down the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, on the journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
People gather on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh to watch the cortege carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, as it completes its journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
The cortege carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II passes St Giles’ Cathedral on its way to Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 11, 2022, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
People gather in tribute as the cortege carrying the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II passes over the Queensferry Crossing road bridge on September 11, 2022, in South Queensferry, United Kingdom.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales view floral tributes left at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales view floral tributes left at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave to crowd on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave to crowds on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view floral tributes left at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
