in this time, king charles will visit scotland, northern ireland and wales. and then we expect the state funeral to be held in ten days or so — at westminster abbey. the exact date will be confirmed by buckingham palace.

of course, i don't know the exact figure, but there were hundreds of thousands, far more than expected. they had to introduce two lines of mourners passing on either side of the coffin and extend the hours, and i would be very surprised if the same thing does not happen again and we will see mass mourning on a scale we will see mass mourning on a scale we have not seen for 20 years. all the details are in this weighty document that has been drawn up, and which has been ready for many years, the document that is under the

codename of london bridge. there is a copy of it here, and it covers every eventuality and that now needs to be updated with the final details, which need to be approved by the king, and you have explained already about the accession council at st james�*s palace tomorrow, already about the accession council at stjames�*s palace tomorrow, which will be televised, and the king will swear an oath, and one of the senior herald will proclaim the fact that his reign has started. he will proclaim that publicly in fryers court at st james�*s palace. that is not a scene we have experienced for 70 years. then, after the short period in edinburgh, the coffin will return to london to westminster hall for the lying in state. then, finally, the state funeral. we have

not seen a state funeral in this country since that of winston churchill in 1965. it is very rare for anyone other than a head of state to have the full state funeral. it is not that different to royal funerals we have seen in recent years, but there are significant differences. it has the status as a state funeral. it has been approved by parliament and it is the final opportunity to pay respects to the outgoing monarch. so that, i would expect, will be as you said in about ten or 11 days. so much depends on what day of the week the death occurs, and they need to then map out all the other components to make sure that there is an opportunity. it can't take place on a sunday. it will be a public holiday and a day of national

mourning. it might, and this is me speculating, it might be on monday the 19th, but we really do need to wait for official acknowledgement or information from buckingham palace. and there is the plane carrying king charles, arriving and making very quick time, arriving into raf northolt in west london. it is about 14 northolt in west london. it is about 1k miles away from the centre of 1a miles away from the centre of london and buckingham palace, which is where the king and queen consort will be heading. they only left less than an hour ago from aberdeen, so quite a moment for king charles as he returns to london. yes. quite a moment for king charles as he returns to london.— quite a moment for king charles as he returns to london. yes. this is a rivate he returns to london. yes. this is a private charter _ he returns to london. yes. this is a private charter flight _ he returns to london. yes. this is a private charter flight which - he returns to london. yes. this is a private charter flight which went - he returns to london. yes. this is a private charter flight which went up| private charter flight which went up to aberdeen to collect in. it is not the same aircraft that took other members of the royal family. the same aircraft that took other members of the royalfamily. now coming into raf northolt, and then there will be the journey that we

saw the new prime minister making just a couple of days ago, in her case to downing street, but the metropolitan police will be whisking the new king and queen consort, and their immediate officials, not to clarence house, which of course would be where they would normally return to when they come to london, but that in itself is a sign of the considerable profound change that has occurred because they will be going to buckingham palace. we would expect that, quite possibly, they will look at the floral tributes that are there, and look at some of the cards that have been left and perhaps meet some of the mourners that are there. but there is other important business for the king to be doing. he will be meeting with the new prime minister this afternoon for that first formal conversation between the new king and the new prime minister, and he will be preparing for the broadcast,

the king �*s address, which we will expect will go out at around 6pm. again, i stress that all of these timings are subject to confirmation and clarification, and will be many things that he will be wanting to consider. many plans. although they are already drawn up, they willjust need to be looked at and he will want to ensure that when he visits the four nations, and over the next few days he will be expected to be visiting cardiff and edinburgh and northern ireland, and he will be i'm sure making speeches in each of those capital cities will stop and again, these initial speeches will be very important, setting the tone for his reign. it be very important, setting the tone for his reign-— for his reign. it does feel like a real moment _ for his reign. it does feel like a real moment of _ for his reign. it does feel like a real moment of change - for his reign. it does feel like a real moment of change now. i for his reign. it does feel like a i real moment of change now. we for his reign. it does feel like a - real moment of change now. we have briefly glimpsed the king as he boarded the plane, but there the royal car is on the tarmac, waiting to take in. the royal standard is

flying above it. a real moment of change, but a very familiar figure. prince charles, now king charles iii, with queen camilla. find prince charles, now king charles iii, with queen camilla. and there is the inevitable _ iii, with queen camilla. and there is the inevitable comparisons - iii, with queen camilla. and there is the inevitable comparisons with | is the inevitable comparisons with the scenes we are all familiar with from the newsreels of the return to this country of queen elizabeth, who left this country as princess elizabeth in february 1952, she was seen off by her father king george vi, who was seriously ill but nobody quite realised how ill he was. she, of course, had to cut short her tour of course, had to cut short her tour of africa and she was planning to go on to the far east, but had to cut it short and return to london. she landed at a very early heathrow airport and was met on the tarmac by the royal limousine. and here, we are about to see a modern day equivalent of that scenario

unfolding. thisjet equivalent of that scenario unfolding. this jet aircraft, equivalent of that scenario unfolding. thisjet aircraft, which has brought the king and queen consort from aberdeen to london, to raf northolt, not as we understand it to be met by any cabinet ministers, but to be met by the vehicles which are drawn up and i think i noticed that it is the queen �*s vehicles. it is the vehicle of the sovereign, the monarch. the large vehicle that it is, and that is the vehicle that, in a few moments, will take the king and the queen consort to buckingham palace. and a sense, really, that this reign is beginning. yesterday was a day for family is beginning. yesterday was a day forfamily morning when is beginning. yesterday was a day for family morning when the family was altogether up there at balmoral castle, with their own thoughts. but now, a return to the capital and the beginning of the formal work as

king, meeting the prime minister, preparing to address the nation, preparing to address the nation, preparing for the days of mourning, preparing for the days of mourning, preparing for the task that falls on his shoulders to be that figure of reassurance and stability. and. his shoulders to be that figure of reassurance and stability. and, as that door opens, _ reassurance and stability. and, as that door opens, it _ reassurance and stability. and, as that door opens, it all _ reassurance and stability. and, as that door opens, it all becomes i reassurance and stability. and, as i that door opens, it all becomes very public, doesn't it, for the new king? he has had hours of private grief, and now it turns to a very public duty. he will be seen right around the country in the next few days, right around the world. these images will be beamed everywhere. yes, you are right. he is stepping out of the private opportunity to grieve now on to the public stage that he will occupy for the next who knows how many years as king, but this really is the moment when the work as monarch begins. that is one of the older vehicles from the royal

fleet. flying the royal standard, the standard of king charles iii. shaking hands with some of the flight crew. i beg your pardon, that is an raf officer. find flight crew. i beg your pardon, that is an raf officer.— flight crew. i beg your pardon, that is an raf officer. and now the queen consort also — is an raf officer. and now the queen consort also descending _ is an raf officer. and now the queen consort also descending the - is an raf officer. and now the queen consort also descending the stairs. . consort also descending the stairs. a small greeting party. yes. consort also descending the stairs. a small greeting party.— a small greeting party. yes, it is a very small — a small greeting party. yes, it is a very small greeting _ a small greeting party. yes, it is a very small greeting party. - a small greeting party. yes, it is a very small greeting party. the - very small greeting party. the principal private secretary, that is the tall figure just behind camilla. and some of the other officials that have been up at the balmoral estate with them. his communications secretary and others. they clearly will have a lot of these arrangements already worked out

because that is what they do, that is what the officials are therefore, to make sure that there is a plan for every eventuality, to make sure that all the contingencies are taking care of. there we are, arthur edwards. ~ , ,., , ., , taking care of. there we are, arthur edwards. ~ , , ., , ., ., edwards. absolutely, he has followed the ro al edwards. absolutely, he has followed the royal family _ edwards. absolutely, he has followed the royal family for _ edwards. absolutely, he has followed the royal family for so _ edwards. absolutely, he has followed the royal family for so many - edwards. absolutely, he has followed the royal family for so many decades | the royal family for so many decades now. there at another crucial moment of history. find now. there at another crucial moment of histo . �* ~' ., now. there at another crucial moment of histo . �* ~ ., ., now. there at another crucial moment ofhisto .�* ~ ., ., ., of history. and i know how important it will be to — of history. and i know how important it will be to him, _ of history. and i know how important it will be to him, to _ of history. and i know how important it will be to him, to arthur, - of history. and i know how important it will be to him, to arthur, he - of history. and i know how important it will be to him, to arthur, he is - it will be to him, to arthur, he is extremely fond of prince charles. how important it will be to him to be there to capture the images of the king returning to london. so, they all seem to be seated in the vehicles, and very shortly they will be departing from raf northolt for the journey into be departing from raf northolt for thejourney into london. just be departing from raf northolt for the journey into london.— be departing from raf northolt for the journey into london. just on the sub'ect of the journey into london. just on the subject of the _ the journey into london. just on the subject of the queen _ the journey into london. just on the subject of the queen consort, - the journey into london. just on the subject of the queen consort, and l subject of the queen consort, and her official title is now. the king and queen?—

and queen? the king and queen consort? i _ and queen? the king and queen consort? ithink_ and queen? the king and queen consort? | think it _ and queen? the king and queen consort? i think it is _ and queen? the king and queen consort? i think it is the - and queen? the king and queen consort? i think it is the king . and queen? the king and queen| consort? i think it is the king and queen. there is perhaps a need just to draw the distinction, that she is not queen vagina. we are used to referring to the queen. —— regina. she is queen consort. i think there is a very important constitutional distinction of the sea that can only be one sovereign, and that is the king. but through 1000 years of custom and practice, the wife of the king has always been known as the queen. there is some sensitivity obviously over that. because of all the domestic history of camilla and everything, which is why initially it had been suggested she would be known as princess consort. but the queen made it very clear in that message that she issued at the time of the 70th anniversary of her

accession back in february, that she wished it to be the case that she should be known, her sincere wish, was that camilla would be known as queen consort. and that was a declaration that nobody really, the queen had said it and charles will have been delighted because that removed what could have been one of the tricky, sensitive issues at this moment of his accession. what do we call camilla? find moment of his accession. what do we call camilla?— call camilla? and so they leave raf northolt about _ call camilla? and so they leave raf northolt about half— call camilla? and so they leave raf northolt about half an _ call camilla? and so they leave raf northolt about half an hour- call camilla? and so they leave raf northolt about half an hourjourney| northolt about half an hour journey into central london from the airfield in west london, 1a miles, or so. and they will head straight to buckingham palace, where the king will be able to see the crowds, see the messages, see the flowers that have been laid out, and no doubt the crowds will be growing, as his

arrival is imminent.— crowds will be growing, as his arrival is imminent. yes, as we understand _ arrival is imminent. yes, as we understand it, _ arrival is imminent. yes, as we understand it, he _ arrival is imminent. yes, as we understand it, he will- arrival is imminent. yes, as we understand it, he will go - arrival is imminent. yes, as we | understand it, he will go directly to buckingham palace. it would be curious if he didn't because it is another symbolic moment of the king returning to the capital city and to his palace, to the headquarters of the british monarchy, which it remains. it is known that he has never been terribly keen to base himself at buckingham palace, but i suspect he will have to reconcile himself to that. he will have to move himself from clarence house in just the same way as the queen and prince philip, rather against their wishes, they had made themselves very comfortable at clarence house which was their home in 1952, and it was the queen mother who was in residence at buckingham palace. but winston churchill made it clear that the monarch resides at buckingham palace. so i would imagine the same thing will happen this time, and that in due course charles and camilla, the king and queen consort,

will move themselves from clarence house, which has been their comfortable home for a number of years, into the big house, as it were, into buckingham palace. although, clearly, he willalso spend a lot of time at windsor. he likes windsor, and of course he has high growth, his country home in gloucestershire. but all of these things will have to be worked out —— highgrove. so, william will become of the direct heir to the throne, and we would expect that he will be named prince of wales, so william and catherine will continue to be the duke and duchess of cambridge, but will get up around to prince and princess of wales. —— a new rank. but again is a decision for the king, and it is one that will be made known in the days to come. and made known in the days to come. and we will hear — made known in the days to come. and we will hear from the new king

publicly. he will address the nation, we think, at around 6pm. he will no doubt reflect upon his mother, who was —— who he was incredibly close to. the way he spoke about her, just how intimate and close the bond was between mother and son.— and close the bond was between mother and son. they had suddenly become much _ mother and son. they had suddenly become much closer— mother and son. they had suddenly become much closer in _ mother and son. they had suddenly become much closer in recent - mother and son. they had suddenlyl become much closer in recent years. i think there were difficult periods in the relationship whilst their marriage was disintegrating, but look at these pictures. the number of people lining the streets. not huge crowds, but significant numbers who have come out to wave and to greet the king back to london. and greet the king back to london. and this is so familiar from just a few

days ago, when we watched the new prime minister making the same journey. the traffic halted, because making their way through west london. it is extraordinary to think the events that have happened over the events that have happened over the last week. it really is, yes. i don't suppose it has ever happened before that the head of state and head of government has changed within 72 hours, not even in the space of a week. it within 72 hours, not even in the space of a week.— space of a week. it is quite extraordinary. _ space of a week. it is quite extraordinary. the - space of a week. it is quite extraordinary. the convoyl space of a week. it is quite - extraordinary. the convoy makes its way at a rather more stately pace than the prior minister �*s —— prime ministers �*s cars. i would imagine it will be a good 20 minutes or half an hour. we shall see. and it will be a good 20 minutes or half an hour. we shall see.— it will be a good 20 minutes or half an hour. we shall see. and when the kin: an hour. we shall see. and when the king addresses _ an hour. we shall see. and when the

king addresses the _ an hour. we shall see. and when the king addresses the nation _ an hour. we shall see. and when the king addresses the nation tonight - king addresses the nation tonight and over the next few weeks, we will get a sense, far more of a sense, of charles as king, and the kind of king that he is going to be. and i king that he is going to be. and i think he will— king that he is going to be. and i think he will indicate _ king that he is going to be. and i think he will indicate that - king that he is going to be. and i think he will indicate that he - king that he is going to be. if i think he will indicate that he will be the kind of monarch to which we have become accustomed over the past 70 years. he has made it clear that he fully understands and appreciates the discipline, the constraints, the circumspection that is absolutely required of a monarch within a constitutional monarchy. at the same time, i think it would be odd if some of his personality did not reflect itself in the way that he conducts himself as monarch. the queen was perhaps a rather understated monarch. very shrewd, very engaged, absorbed an awful lot of information and had a great interest in the role as monarch but

kept her council very much to herself. i suspect that there may be thought to be just some, and herself. i suspect that there may be thought to bejust some, and i stress some latitude for a slightly more proactive monarch. we have talked before of this word, this convening ability of a monarch, and i can't imagine it is inconceivable that charles will be able to just forget his passionate interest in the environment, in particular. it has been suggested that one might see the buckingham palace conference on the rainforests under the convening chairmanship of the king, and that is a powerful invitation, if you receive that. who is not going to attend such a discussion at buckingham palace? but he is shrewd enough, and he has seen enough of it over his 73 years, and the many years where he has been actively engaged as prince of wales, to know where the boundary line is, and he

did make that comment in that bbc documentary on his 70th birthday, when he was directly asked, are you going to be a meddling monarch? that has often been the fear expressed by some politicians, even. and he made it clear that no, "i am not stupid, i do realise this is a differentjob with different requirements". you can assume that he has reconciled himself in his mind to the different requirements of this role that we see him speeding towards now. indeed, making quick progress towards the centre of london. the crowds are still very large outside buckingham palace. the flowers being laid, still people continue to arrive there to pay tribute. the flag is at half mast. the new king they're making very rapid progress towards the centre of the city. and, as far as the other members of the

royalfamily, who we