King Charles III has thanked mourners across the globe for their messages of sympathy and support following the loss of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, His Majesty and the Royal Family revealed that they had been “deeply moved” by the response felt across the realms.
“His Majesty The King and the Royal Family wish to send their sincere gratitude for the messages of condolence received from around the world,” the statement read.
“The Royal Family has been deeply moved by the global response and affection shown for The Queen as people join them in mourning the loss of Her Majesty.”
The Queen’s coffin is currently Lying-in-State in Westminster Hall, where she will stay until her State Funeral Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19.
“Presently, a continuous Vigil of Her Majesty’s Coffin is being kept by The King’s Body Guards at the Palace of Westminster,” the statement continued.
“Each Watch lasts for six hours, with individuals within those Watches keeping Vigil for 20 minutes.”
King Charles was officially proclaimed Britain’s new Monarch in a history-making ceremony on Saturday, September 10 that was televised for the first time.
Accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, and his eldest son Prince William, King Charles joined approximately 200 senior politicians and officials at St James’ Palace for the Accession Council where he was officially proclaimed King by Clerk of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Richard Tilbrook.
King Charles delivered a declaration to the ceremony where he pledged “to follow the inspiring example” set by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in “upholding constitutional government” and vowed “to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world”.
The King then took an oath “relating to the security of the Church of Scotland”.
“I, Charles III, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of my other realms and territories, King, Defender of the Faith, do faithfully promise and swear that I should inviolably maintain and preserve the settlement of the true Protestant religion as established by the laws made in Scotland in prosecution of the Claim of Right and particularly by an act intituled an act for securing the Protestant religion and Presbyterian church government and by the acts passed in the Parliament of both kingdoms for union of the two kingdoms, together with the government, worship, discipline, rights and privileges, of the Church of Scotland,” he said.
“So Help me God.”
The Palace announced His Majesty, The Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward will hold a Vigil around their mother’s coffin at 7:30 pm on Friday, September 16.