Prince Charles' official title has been confirmed following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, although he could have taken a different name.
King Charles issued his first statement as the sovereign of the United Kingdom shortly after the death of Elizabeth II was announced.
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He said: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
“We mourn profoundly the loss of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved Mother.
“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Clarence House, the former Prince of Wales’ official residence, has now declared that he will be known officially as King Charles III.
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As new monarch, Charles could have chosen his own regnal name, and this has been done in the past with both Edward VII and Edward VIII choosing their names as king, despite being known as Albert and David respectively beforehand.
The then-Prince Charles could have chosen any of his given names, so could have been King Arthur, King George, King Philip, or – as it has transpired – King Charles.
The Queen’s death was announced this evening after health concerns mounted throughout the day.
A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
"The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
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Prime Minister Liz Truss – who was officially confirmed in her role by the Queen earlier this week – said that Elizabeth leaves behind a ‘great legacy’.
She said: "Today the Crown passes, as it has done for more than a thousand years, to our new monarch, our new head of state, His Majesty King Charles III.
"With the King's family we mourn the loss of his mother and come together.
"We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much to us for so long."
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She added that the Queen’s death was the ‘passing of the second Elizabethan age’ and concluded by saying: “God save the King.”
Tributes to the late monarch have also come from the leaders of other governments around the UK.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, is a profoundly sad moment for the UK, the Commonwealth and the world.
“Her life was one of extraordinary dedication and service.
“On behalf of the people of Scotland, I convey my deepest condolences to the King and the Royal Family."
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Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford also said: “As our longest-reigning monarch, she firmly upheld the values and traditions of the British Monarchy.
“On behalf of the people of Wales, I offer our deepest condolences to Her Majesty's family during this sad time."
Topics: UK News, World News, Royal Family, The Queen, Prince Charles
Tom Wood