[Politics] In mourning for Elizabeth II, the British embrace Charles III who promises to serve them

[-𝓣𝓐𝓚𝓘]

he new monarch of the United Kingdom, Charles III, promised this Friday to serve "all life", like his late mother Elizabeth II, to some Britons mourning the death of the iconic queen and who embraced the new monarch with shouts of "God save the king!".

(Read here: The world says goodbye to Elizabeth II: queen who sealed her name in world history)

"My beloved mother", when she turned 21, "committed (...) to dedicate her life, whether short or long, to the service of the people," recalled the King in his first speech to the nation, recorded in the Buckingham Palace and which was broadcast this Friday by television networks.

"Today I renew that promise of service throughout life," added Carlos III, 73, committing himself to defend "constitutional principles."

Thousands of people greeted him with a standing ovation on his return to London from Scotland, 800 kilometers to the north, where Elizabeth II died on Thursday, aged 96, at Balmoral Castle.

“God save the king!” shouted the crowd when Carlos III got down with his wife, the queen consort Camilla, from the official Rolls Royce that took them from the airport to the gates of Buckingham, where it was hoisted for the first time for him. the royal standard Taking a long walk, the new monarch shook many hands and loudly received messages of condolences and support.

Could King Charles III abdicate the throne of England?
Video
The changes that await the British monarchy after the death of Elizabeth II
Balmoral: this is the residence where Queen Elizabeth II died

The King thus wanted to show his most human and close facet, very different from the distant and stretched image that has always been attributed to him.

He spared no contact and smiles with the public, although without going as far as he intended a spontaneous one that he tried, unsuccessfully, to kiss the new monarch.

Automatically converted into king after the death of his mother, Carlos III will be officially proclaimed monarch this Saturday. However, it is worth mentioning that his official coronation may take a few more months.

The Ascension Council will meet at 10 a.m. m. (4 a.m. in Colombia) in the San Jaime palace and the proclamation will be read in public an hour later from a balcony, before being repeated in other emblematic places.

On the other hand, during his first speech, Charles III also announced the appointment of his eldest son, William, 40, as the new Prince of Wales and heir to the throne.

His wife, Catherine, will be Princess of Wales, a title not used since Lady Di's death in 1997. In his speech, the new monarch also expressed "love" to his youngest son, Enrique, 37, and his wife, former American actress Meghan Markle, who "continue to build their lives abroad ”.

The royal family has maintained a tense relationship with the couple since they left their duties in 2020 and went to live in the United States.

In addition, the King's first act in Buckingham was to meet with the new prime minister, Liz Truss, appointed on Tuesday to replace Boris Johnson, for whom it was also a first since he did not have time to hold any of the usual audiences with Elizabeth II. meetings between the heads of state and government.

Elizabeth II was "one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known," Truss said hours earlier during a tribute in Parliament.

Later, the head of government read a passage from the Bible in a religious service held in honor of the Queen in Saint Paul's Cathedral: "None of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself, because if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord.”

The bells of the great Anglican cathedral rang at noon, like those of Westminster Abbey and others in the country, in honor of the late monarch.

96 cannon salvos were also fired at various locations in the UK, for the queen's lifetime.

"I loved her. She was the only leader worthy of that name left in the country, ”lamented Paul White, 48, on the London underground with a newspaper in his hands, monopolized, like everyone else, by the death of the Queen.

"Carlos III (...) will have a hard time reigning after her, but I will support him and his family," he added.

As Britons and visitors alike gathered with flowers and photos outside Buckingham Palace, tributes poured in from around the world.

US President Joe Biden praised a "stateswoman of unparalleled dignity and perseverance," announcing that she will be at her funeral.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito praised Elizabeth II's "many achievements and contributions." While Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that Elizabeth II had "authority" in the world, but she does not plan to travel to London, he specified his spokeswoman on Friday.

After the enormous po[CENSORED]rity enjoyed by Elizabeth II, the truth is that the future of the British monarchy is predicted to be more complicated with Charles III, less appreciated by public opinion.

The British prefer his eldest son, Guillermo, and his wife, Catalina, who together with his young children, Jorge, Carlota and Luis, appear as a more modern family.

The truth is that Carlos III began his reign being much less loved than his mother. According to a 2021 YouGov poll, just over a third of respondents thought he would make a good king, while more than 70 percent had a favorable opinion of Elizabeth II.

https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/rey-carlos-de-inglaterra-primer-discurso-y-anuncio-de-duelo-nacional-701211