After the death of the Queen, the new King Charles III. a night at Balmoral Castle. Then he starts his return journey to London, where he confronts his subjects and doesn’t shy away from physical contact. In his much-anticipated first speech, he outlines the vision for his reign.

The evening after the first speech by King Charles III. are almost 40 intense hours behind the new British monarch. It began with the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s deteriorating health on Thursday afternoon. Presumably Charles was informed earlier. Then followed the death of his mother. These and all their achievements then took a central role in the first speech of King Charles III. to his subjects, which was broadcast on British television but also by many broadcasters in other countries.

In the address, the new British king pledged to serve his country throughout his life, following the example of his mother. “Today I renew that promise of a lifetime of service to all of you,” he said. Earlier, Charles shook hands with numerous people at Buckingham Palace and received Prime Minister Liz Truss for a first audience.

After a night at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where Elizabeth II spent her final hours, 73-year-old Charles returned to London as king in the afternoon. When he arrived at Buckingham Palace, he was greeted by thousands of people. One woman kissed his hand, another even his cheek. At the side of the king’s wife Camilla, Charles walked past mountains of bouquets that mourners had laid in front of the palace.

Days of national mourning began in Great Britain on Friday morning. Cultural and sporting events were cancelled, department stores remained closed, and even railway and postal workers called off their strikes. The games of the Premier League football league at the weekend were also postponed.

Bells rang out at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and churches across the country to commemorate the Queen. A 96-gun salute was fired at the Tower of London and elsewhere in the UK, one for each year the Queen was born.

In a parliamentary session in honor of the Queen, Prime Minister Truss praised Queen Elizabeth II as “one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known”. At a memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral, which Truss also attended, the British national anthem was officially sung for the first time, with the title “God Save the King” adapted for the new king. Charles will be officially proclaimed king on Saturday. This is one of the next important milestones. Another is the Queen’s funeral, which observers believe will take place on September 19.

In his address, Charles said he would endeavor to “serve with loyalty, respect and love” all people in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. He also announced that he would bestow the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales on the new heir to the throne, Prince William and his wife Catherine. It was a “great honor” for him to hold this title for decades.

In the speech, Charles also mentioned his “love” for his younger son Harry and his wife Meghan, who retired from their royal duties in the royal family in April 2020 and emigrated to the United States.

Finally, the king addressed a few personal words to his late mother: He thanked his “dear Mama” for “her love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations that she has served so diligently over the years”.

As announced by Buckingham Palace, the king and the royal family are now in an extended period of mourning, which only ends a week after the Queen’s funeral. Heads of state and government and representatives of royal families from all over the world are expected to attend the funeral service in Westminster Abbey. US President Joe Biden announced his participation on Friday. The Queen will then be buried in the King George VI Chapel at Windsor Castle, where her husband Prince Philip, who died last year, is buried.

After being laid out at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, the Queen’s remains are due to be transported to London on Tuesday, where the coffin will then be laid out at Westminster Hall. Authorities expect more than a million people to file past the Queen’s coffin.