King Charles III swears his lifelong commitment to the service as Britain enters the period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth

King Charles III vowed to continue his mother’s “steady love of tradition” and lifelong commitment, in a speech recorded at Buckingham Palace and broadcast just before the start of a special prayer and reflection service for the Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral.

He also announced the appointment of his eldest son William as Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, thereby formalizing his role as heir. And in what many would consider a magnanimous gesture given the recent story, he also “expressed my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad.”

“Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise kept with fate and she is deeply mourned at her death. Today I renew that promise of lifelong service to all of you,” the king said in his first speech as sovereign on Friday.

Did you meet Queen Elizabeth during her reign? Share your memory of the late monarch

Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle on Thursday, there have been questions about how Charles will fulfill the role of king. He has never been as popular as some other members of the royal family and taking on an icon like the Queen who reigned for 70 years has always been a challenge. Charles was also the longest heir to the throne in British history, and many wondered if he would be up to the task at 73.

Many people waited for the speech to get a first measure from him. But on Friday there were early signs that the public has started to warm up to Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort.

The couple were greeted with steady applause and cheers as they arrived at Buckingham Palace on Friday afternoon after spending Thursday in Balmoral to be by the Queen’s side. As the king waded into the crowd to shake hands with the well-wishers, a woman kissed him and there were shouts of “God save the King” and “Hail to the King”.

“I will support whatever he does,” said Penny Thompson, 23, after catching a glimpse of the pair as they drove to the palace. “He doesn’t have the same relationship with people as she does, but we’ll see. Give him time.”

At the King and Queen Pub in central London, patrons sat in silence while Charles spoke. They listened intently as he spoke of his mother’s dedication to duty and service and her dedication to the Church.

The king also referred to his story, in which he addressed various concerns and voiced his views on a variety of issues, and acknowledged that his life was about to change. “I will no longer be able to devote as much of my time and energy to the charities and causes that are so close to my heart,” he said.

The king ended his remarks with a touching speech to his “favorite mom”.

“Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently over the years. May swarms of angels sing you to your rest. “

The moment he finished speaking, the pub erupted in applause and shouts of “God save the King”.

“That was emotional,” one man said to his drinker as the clapping died down.

“It was heartbreaking,” said Danny Leavens, who stopped by the pub for a pint after working at a nearby construction site. “He really gagged.” Mr. Leavens said he hadn’t given Charles much thought, but he now believes he will be a strong king. “I think he’s going to shake things up and that’s going to be a good thing.”

His friend Jonathan Brown said six months ago he hoped Charles would abdicate so Prince William could become king. But after watching Charles deliver a speech on Friday, Mr Brown changed his mind. “That was a very loving speech,” he said. “Exactly the right tone.” He also hopes that Charles will take care of the matter and not hold back his opinion. “Maybe it’s time for someone willing to take over.”

But others remain unconvinced. “He’s going to have trouble replicating the connection the Queen had,” said Elliot Volpe, 24, as he stood near Buckingham Palace. “Especially for our generation. It’s more that William and Kate are the ones who will be more in touch with our generation.”

Despite becoming king the moment the queen died, Charles will be formally proclaimed monarch following a meeting of the accession council on Saturday. Tradition dictates that there will also be various proclamations in London and King Charles will travel to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for an official reception as king.

The Queen’s coffin remains in Edinburgh and there will be a service for her at St Giles’ Cathedral. The coffin will then be flown to London and the Queen will rest for four days next week in Westminster Hall, the oldest building on Parliament’s grounds. Her funeral is expected to take place across the street at Westminster Abbey on September 19.

Friday was filled with tributes to the Queen as Britain began a period of mourning that will last until after her funeral. At midday, church bells rang across the country. Gun salutes followed an hour later in London’s Hyde Park and elsewhere, including 96 explosions, one for each year of their lives. The House of Commons also held a special session on Friday for Members of Parliament to pay their respects.

Around 2,000 people, including Prime Minister Liz Truss, crowded into Friday prayers at St Paul’s Cathedral. At the end of the process, the community stood for the first official singing of the revised British national anthem, God save the king.

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