King Charles Says Queen’s Death Was “The Moment I’ve Been Dreading” In First Audience With Prime Minister
King Charles II held his first audience with the Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace this afternoon (Alamy)
3 min read
King Charles III has told Liz Truss his mother’s death was “the moment I’ve been dreading” during his first audience with the Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace.
In footage released on Friday evening, the new monarch welcomed Truss and told her he “mustn’t take up too much of your time” as the new PM must be “very busy”.
Truss offered her sympathies to Charles following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. The King said that we must “try and keep everything going”.
The newly-appointed Prime Minister only took office on Tuesday, after meeting the Queen in Balmoral.
She spoke to the King by phone to offer her condolences last night after the news of Elizabeth II’s death was confirmed.
Charles travelled to London from Balmoral in Scotland this morning, before greeting crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace. Alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort he shook hands with wellwishers, many of whom shouted "God save the King!".
Earlier on Friday, Truss led tributes by MPs in the Commons to the Queen, and also “offered loyal service to our new King”.
She said: “His Majesty King Charles III bears an awesome responsibility that he now carries for all of us.
“I was grateful to speak to His Majesty last night and offer my condolences. Even as he mourns, his sense of duty and service is clear.”
Truss added: “He has already made a profound contribution through his work on conservation, education, and his tireless diplomacy.
“We owe him our loyalty and devotion. The British people, the Commonwealth, and all of us in this House, will support him as he takes our country forward to a new era of hope and progress, our New Carolean age.
Following the King’s first televised address at 6pm, there was a service of remembrance of St Paul's Cathedral, which Truss and other senior politicians attended, and the PM gave a reading.
This morning Truss chaired a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street where senior ministers paid tribute to the Queen and “shared memories of her lifetime of service, including fond recollections of their own encounters with her”, according to No 10, ending with a moment of silence.
Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, then chaired a ministerial coordination meeting in the Cabinet Office where preparations for the period of mourning and the Queen's state funeral were discussed.
He was joined by secretaries of state, along with the Leader of the Commons, operational policing leads and representatives from the Royal Household.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
