Charles MOVED TO TEARS as MPs sing 'God save the King' after his first formal address to Parliament
LONDON, ENGLAND: King Charles III was moved to tears on Monday, September 12, as the Parliament sang 'God Save the King' after his first formal address to MPs in which he said he could "feel the weight of history" on his shoulders following their tributes to his "beloved mother."
His Majesty delivered a historic speech in which he promised to carry on the Queen's selfless duty. The 73-year-old monarch also looked emotional as the Lord Speaker and the Commons Speaker expressed their condolences, saying, "Deep as our grief is, we know yours is deeper." The King addressed the crowd from a gilded lectern in Westminster Hall and thanked the hundreds of politicians and peers who had assembled to pay tribute to his mother.
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Charles noted that the late Queen Elizabeth II had "set an example of selfless duty which, with God's help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow." The grieving son quoted Shakespeare in his poignant speech as he paid tribute to his "beloved mother." He said, "As Shakespeare said of the earlier Queen Elizabeth, she was a pattern to all princes living. 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." Charles added, "I am deeply grateful for addresses of condolence, which so touchingly encompass what late sovereign beloved mother meant to us all."
King Charles says, "I cannot help but feel the weight of history." as he makes his first address to parliament at Westminster Hall.
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) September 12, 2022
The new Sovereign is now en route to Edinburgh, where he will attend a service of thanksgiving at St. Giles Cathedral with her family. pic.twitter.com/tjmlQkVaaO
Following the speech, the dignitaries stood up for the national anthem, which moved the new King to tears on a day when he would be seen with the Queen's coffin for the first time in Scotland.
Members of parliament sang ‘God Save the King’ to Charles in Westminster Hall before the King departed for Edinburgh for the arrival of his mother’s coffin to the city’s historic cathedral https://t.co/vg1OALddsd pic.twitter.com/lubcVUHhQA
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 12, 2022
Charles told MPs that he was "resolved faithfully to follow" in the footsteps of his mother, the Queen. In conclusion of his first formal address as King, he said, "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."
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As the monarch drove from Clarence House down The Mall for the historic moment, there were clamors and cheers of 'God Save the King'. MPs and peers were seen bowing and curtsying as he walked slowly to his throne with Queen Consort, Camilla.
Among those in attendance at Westminster Hall were Prime Minister Liz Truss, her predecessor Boris Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and hundreds of leaders. The near-1,000-year-old hall is located in the ancient heart of the Palace of Westminster, where the late Queen will lie in state from Wednesday evening for four days until her funeral next Monday, September 19.