King Charles III has addressed the nation for the first time as sovereign.
Speaking from Buckingham Palace, he paid tribute to his “beloved” mother’s memory and vowed to serve with “loyalty, respect and love”.
The King and the Queen Consort travelled back to London this afternoon after hundreds of church bells and gun salutes rang out to mark the death of the Queen.
He then held his first in-person audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace.
Millions are mourning the death of the monarch today – with colourful bouquets, personal messages and gifts being laid across the world in her memory.
Her Majesty died at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon, surrounded by members of the royal family.
She was the longest serving monarch in British history, guiding the nation through times of turmoil and social change as a “source of stability, serenity and strength”.
The whole Royal Family – including Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry -travelled to Scotland yesterday to be with the 96-year-old monarch in her final hour.
This evening, mourners have gathered at St Paul’s Cathedral for a service and reflection, with the first official rendition of God Save the King sung at the end.
Ms Truss read Romans 14:7-12 at the service.
First official duties as sovereign
King Charles III, who ascended the throne following the death of his mother, stayed at Balmoral overnight along with his siblings Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne.
The new head of state and Camila, the Queen Consort, left Balmoral at around 11.30am with his plane to London taking off from Aberdeen Airport at around noon.
Upon landing in the capital at 2pm, the King took up his first official duties as sovereign.
He stopped outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and greeted the public who have been waiting for him since yesterday.
The King received heartfelt condolences from the crowds, while Camilla appeared close to tears at the end of the 15-minute walk around flowers laid for the Queen.
Afterwards, he recorded his first address to the nation as sovereign in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
His speech paid tribute to his “darling mama” and her life of service, and he vowed to serve with loyalty, respect and love.
He said: “Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never waivered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss.
The King also confirmed that his heir will become the Prince of Wales.
A period of mourning
The King also met with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace on Friday afternoon, just days after his mother appointed her to the role Monday.
Ms Truss offered her condolences at a time the King said he had been “dreading”.
Palace officials confirmed he will be proclaimed at the Accession Council in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace at 10am on Saturday.
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, was seen leaving Balmoral at about 8.15am, with the convoy passing flowers that had been laid as tributes to his late grandmother.
The UK has now entered a period of national mourning before a state funeral is held for the Queen in around 10 days.
Muffled church bells will be rung up and down the country at 12noon for a full hour on Friday to mark the monarch’s death.
At around 1pm, gun salutes were also fired around the UK and overseas, as well as in Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.
Nation pays respect to the Queen
Crowds have been gathering at spots all across the UK, with people of all ages paying heartfelt tributes to the Queen, who was a much loved and respected figure.
Books of condolence for the Queen are being opened in churches, theatres and local authorities across the country as well as on the royal website.
The royal family added its “Book of Condolence” to the official website, allowing people from all over the world to send messages of support.
The website states: “A selection of messages will be passed onto members of the Royal Family, and may be held in the Royal Archives for posterity.”
There will be no physical books of condolence at any of the royal residences but members of the public can leave their messages online on the royal website.
Local councils across the north and north-east have also set up books for people to write messages of support – some physically and others online.
A service of remembrance was held in the Inverness this morning as civic leaders of Highland Council paid their respects to Her Majesty the Queen.
Moray residents have also paid tribute to the Queen who has been a “constant throughout their lives”.
In Elgin, Judith McIntryre shared a story of being invited to dance for the monarch at Balmoral.
She said: “We hired a band and had two buses, went over the Lecht and into Balmoral and did our dancing. She was there in her tartan skirt and red cardie, and she spoke to everybody. She was absolutely charming.
“She said ‘Oh I used to enjoy doing a little dance’ and she did a little one, two, three, hop, one two three hop.”
Crowds gather at Balmoral
At Balmoral Castle, floral tributes can be left at the main gate with a park and ride bus service set up from Ballater to take mourners there.
Busloads of people have been arriving at the castle gates to pay tribute to the late Queen throughout the day – with thousands more expected to come over the weekend.
Park and Ride Park facilities are currently operating from Ballater and Braemar for those wishing to leave flowers and pay their respects.
Aberdeenshire Council said access to the castle gates by car is temporarily not permitted but buses will be departing from both villages on a regular basis today.
There’s now an abundance of flowers for the Queen here at Balmoral. pic.twitter.com/JVExM1XvXJ
— Lauren Taylor (@ltaylor_DCT) September 9, 2022
Disabled car parking facilities will be provided in the coach park at the Crathie Bridge.
The council also stressed only floral tributes are being accepted – no other items such as candles, soft toys or photographs should be brought.
At the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, people are encouraged to give floral tributes to the wardens at the entrance to The Queen’s Gallery.
A period of national and royal mourning
Official union flags at various prominent buildings across the UK have been lowered to half-mast to mark the Queen’s death.
Buckingham Palace said a period of royal mourning will be observed from now until seven days after the Queen’s funeral, the date of which will be confirmed in due course.
Many public buildings such as galleries and museums will be closed during the period of national mourning, which is expected to be around 12 days.
Royal residences will close until after the Queen’s funeral, including the Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, and the Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh.
The Queen’s private estates – Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House – will also close, as will Hillsborough Castle, the sovereign’s official residence in Northern Ireland.
There is still no confirmation whether schools will be closed on the day of the Queen’s state funeral, as local authorities are still waiting for the royal schedule to be announced.
Councils across the north and north-east have confirmed that for now all learning facilities will operate as usual next week.
Tributes continue to pour in
Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for the Queen to mark the extraordinary reign of the lonest monarch in British history.
A portrait of the Queen has gone on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.
The artwork is a photographic study by Julian Calder which was made in 2010 near the Gelder Burn on the Balmoral estate.
MPs have observed a minute’s silence in memory of the Queen in the House of Commons chamber.
They stood in a crowded chamber with heads bowed.
I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
It was a great honour to sing in front of her at Buckingham Palace. My sincere condolences to the members of the Royal family. pic.twitter.com/27cANKZ2a5— Emeli Sandé (@emelisande) September 9, 2022
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led the tributes, telling MPs: “She is wed in our minds with the crown and all it stands for.”
“We have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief”, Prime Minister Liz Truss added.
“In the hours since last night’s shocking news, we have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief at the loss of Her late Majesty the Queen.
“Crowds have gathered, flags have been lowered to half-mast, tributes have been sent from every continent around the world.”
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