King Charles III told MPs and peers that he was “resolved to faithfully follow” the example set by his mother, the Queen, as he addressed Parliament on Monday (September 12) morning. The new monarch made his address at Westminster Hall to both Houses of Parliament.
The King paid tribute to his mother’s service and her “unsurpassed devotion”. In his first address at Westminster Hall, His Majesty reflected upon “the weight of history” of the surroundings and spoke of the connections to the Queen present at Westminster Hall.
Around 900 MPs and peers gathered to hear the address. Speakers from both the House of Commons and House of Lords, Sirs Lindsay Hoyle and Lorde McFall both addressed the King on behalf of those attending.
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Lord Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith paid tribute to the Queen’s “inspiring reign of deep and unparalleled devotion” as he pledged loyalty to the new King on behalf of the House of Lords. Sir Lindsay Hoyle added: “We know you hold the greatest respect, the precious traditions, the freedoms, and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government. We know that you will bear those responsibilities which fall to you with the fortitude, dignity, demonstrated by Her late Majesty.”
Speaking from a gilded lectern, King Charles began his address by thanking MPs and peers for their messages, which he said “touchingly encompass what our late sovereign, my beloved mother the Queen, meant to us all”. The King said: “As Shakespeare says of the earlier Queen Elizabeth, she was ‘a pattern to all princes living’.”
He then spoke of the historic significance of the address. He said: “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, for the betterment of us all.”
The King described Parliament as the “living and breathing instrument of our democracy” as he referenced the connections to “my darling late mother”. Addressing Parliament, he said: “From the fountain in New Palace Yard, which commemorates the late Queen’s Silver Jubilee, to the sundial in Old Palace Yard for the Golden Jubilee.
“The magnificent stained glass window before me for the Diamond Jubilee. And so poignantly, and yet to be formally unveiled, your most generous gift to Her late Majesty to mark the unprecedented Platinum Jubilee, which we celebrated only three months ago with such joyful hearts.
“The Great Bell of Big Ben, one of the most powerful symbols of our nation, throughout the world and housed within the Elizabeth Tower, also named for my mother’s Diamond Jubilee, will mark the passage of the late Queen’s progress from Buckingham Palace to this Parliament on Wednesday”.
The King told MPs and peers assembled in Westminster Hall that he was “resolved faithfully to follow” the example of his mother, the Queen. He concluded his first formal address to Parliament as King by saying: “We gather today in remembrance of the remarkable span of the Queen’s dedicated service to her nations and peoples.
“While very young, Her late Majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation.
“This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty which, with God’s help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow.”
Following the King’s address, the audience stood and the national anthem was sung in Westminster Hall. The King and Queen Consort then departed, followed by the Lords and Commons Speakers.
The King and Queen consort were driven to RAF Northolt, before being flown to Edinburgh where the King will lead members of the Royal Family in a procession along the Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral.
The Royal Family will then be joined by a congregation to attend a service of thanksgiving for her life. Members of the public will then be able pay their respects to the Queen as she lies in state for 24 hours.
Mourners wishing to pay their respects to the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall later this week have been warned that queues could reach as long as 20 hours. The lying-in-state will begin at 5pm on Wednesday, September 14 and will last until 6.30am on Monday, September 19.
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