King Charles III greets royal mourners as he arrives at Buckingham Palace ahead of first address

King Charles III has returned to Buckingham Palace where he greeted royal mourners ahead of his first TV address as head of state following the death of the Queen.

• King Charles has made the emotional journey from Balmoral to London ahead of his first ever TV appearance following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
• The new monarch will give a televised speech at 6pm tonight.
• This royal news comes as people ask Where will the Queen be buried when she dies? Details of Her Majesty's final resting place

King Charles III has returned to London and greeted royal mourners outside Buckingham Palace ahead of his televised speech as the UK starts a period of national mourning following the death of the Queen.

The new monarch travelled with Camilla, Queen Consort, from Balmoral to London on his first full day of reign and as their vehicle pulled up at the palace gates, King Charles got out of his car to meet those paying tributes to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

He approached mourners who had lined the street, and proceeded to shake hands with those offering their condolences. Some of those gathered shouted 'God save the King' and one woman kissed him on his hand while another well-wisher later reached over the barrier to kiss the King on his cheek.

King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, proceeded to look at the floral displays laid in tribute to the Queen and her 70 years of service.

The King is set to meet the Prime Minister Liz Truss and record an address that will be broadcast to the nation tonight.

Charles was with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, when Buckingham Palace announced the Queen had died peacefully aged 96, at her Balmoral residency in the afternoon of Thursday, 8th, September 2022.

King Charles has shared his 'greatest sadness' in his first statement following the death of his mother.

And his Majesty has asked for a period of official royal mourning to be observed up until the seventh days after the Queen's funeral with flags at royal residences to remain at half mast, as mourners leave floral tributes outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Liz Truss is expected to make the short journey from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace to meet with the King and later that evening she will join senior ministers and politicians to attend a public service of prayer and reflection at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London at 6pm. 

The service will be broadcast on the BBC and will include audio of the King’s televised address to the nation if it coincides with the service.

The Prime Minster will need to confirm the length of national mourning, which is expected to be around 12 days - ending the day after the funeral.

In his speech today King Charles is expected to pay tribute to the Queen and pledge his duty to his service as the new sovereign.

He will be officially announced as the new sovereign on Saturday when the accession council meets at St James' Palace taking place traditionally at 10am. This is read in the open air from the Friary Court balcony by the Garter King of Arms.