my diary was empty and my phone stopped ringing. my office was astonished to get a call from buckingham palace. no—one else wanted to have anything to do with me! but the queen wanted to see me. i was invited to take tea with the queen for her to thank me for my service as secretary of state. the relationship between monarch and prime minister when tony blair won his landslide victory the queen reminded him that winston churchill had been her first prime minister. i winston churchill had been her first prime minister.— prime minister. i was talking to someone with _ prime minister. i was talking to someone with extraordinary - someone with extraordinary knowledge, experience, history. i used to look forward to it. the relationship — used to look forward to it. the relationship between monarch and prime minister is precious and unique. liz truss will fulfil her new role alongside a new king. vicki young, bbc news, westminster.

the new reign of king charles which began yesterday and is expected to began yesterday and is expected to be true to the constitutional path followed so loyally by queen elizabeth, though charles's views on some issues of public debate have of course been clearly expressed in the past. he comes to the throne at the age of 73 having served a record period as prince of wales. our special correspondent alan little assesses charles's life and work so far and the challenges ahead as monarch. it has been a long journey to the throne. at an age when most of us have retired, he assumes the role for which he has been preparing for much of his life. her royal highness - the princess elizabeth, duchess of edinburgh, with safely delivered l of a prince at 9:14pm. thatjourney began in i9lr8 when the country was recovering from a devastating war. the monarchy had come to symbolise the nation's wartime sacrifice and resilience.

will you come to the utmost of your power, maintain in the united kingdom... he was just four when he saw his mother crowned, too young to understand what it would mean for his own destiny. it was by no means an entirely happy childhood — royal duties meant his parents were often away on a long foreign tours. after one of them, it was a rather sad looking charles who waited on the platform to welcome his mother home. the prince leads the way in real commando style. he was the first heir to the throne to be educated in a school. even at a child, he was living his life in the public eye. his time at gordonstoun was a torment. he was shy and sensitive and suffered periods of bullying. in faith and truth i will bear unto thee... he was invested as prince of wales at 21. he joined the raf, learned to fly and commanded a coastal here is the stuff of which fairy tales are made.

when he married lady diana spencer in 1981, it seemed the perfect match. the couple's sons were born in the early years of their marriage. it soon became clear that relationship was foundering. it ended in divorce and admission of adultery. did you try to be fatal and honourable to when he took the vow of marriage? yes honourable to when he took the vow of marriage?— of marriage? yes kip, absolutely. and ou of marriage? yes kip, absolutely. and you were? — of marriage? yes kip, absolutely. and you were? yes. _ of marriage? yes kip, absolutely. and you were? yes. until - of marriage? yes kip, absolutely. and you were? yes. until it - of marriage? yes kip, absolutely. l and you were? yes. until it became irretrievably — and you were? yes. until it became irretrievably broken _ and you were? yes. until it became irretrievably broken down. - and you were? yes. until it became irretrievably broken down. as - and you were? yes. until it became irretrievably broken down. as both i irretrievably broken down. as both having _ irretrievably broken down. as both having tried. irretrievably broken down. as both having tried-— having tried. what the public did not know that _ having tried. what the public did not know that when _ having tried. what the public did not know that when he - having tried. what the public did not know that when he married i having tried. what the public did - not know that when he married diana he had already met the woman who would become the love of his life, camilla. but he had hesitated and she married a cavalry officer, andrew parker bowles. the wave of public grief that followed the death of diana in 1997 provoked a backlash that shook the reputation of the

royal family. but in just eight years, he steered public opinion toward acceptance of camilla, who he married in 2005. as prince of wales he led a life of public advocacy, expressing opinions and promoting causes that were close to his heart, particularly the environment and climate change. i particularly the environment and climate change.— particularly the environment and climate change. i should be able to sa i climate change. i should be able to say i attended _ climate change. i should be able to say i attended a — climate change. i should be able to say i attended a few _ climate change. i should be able to say i attended a few seminars - climate change. i should be able to say i attended a few seminars and l say i attended a few seminars and made a few speeches, got into a spot of trouble and controversy occasionally, was accused of being a crank of various sorts but cannot come to have done much more. what about all of you? what are you going to say to your grandchildren? his outspokenness drew criticism that he was undermining the monarchy�*s constitutional duty to political neutrality. the queen came to a body a certain conception bitterness, we looked at her and saw a set of values that were at the heart of what it meant to be british. and yet

we knew almost nothing about her own views on the great issues of the day. we know a lot about where the new king stands. for 50 years he was an activist prince of wales, commanders monarchy will have to step away from that.— step away from that. people have ex - ressed step away from that. people have expressed worries _ step away from that. people have expressed worries about - step away from that. people have expressed worries about whether| step away from that. people have - expressed worries about whether this involvement will continue in the same _ involvement will continue in the same wav _ involvement will continue in the same way. it involvement will continue in the same way-— involvement will continue in the same way. it won't. i'm not that stuid! i same way. it won't. i'm not that stupid! i do — same way. it won't. i'm not that stupid! i do realise _ same way. it won't. i'm not that stupid! i do realise that - same way. it won't. i'm not that stupid! i do realise that it - same way. it won't. i'm not that stupid! i do realise that it is - same way. it won't. i'm not that stupid! i do realise that it is a i stupid! i do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign. but there is a counterargument, but it is his engagement with the most pressing issues of the day that will place his reign at the heart of national life, renewing and reinvigorating the monarchy. first he was best _ reinvigorating the monarchy. first he was best known _ reinvigorating the monarchy. first he was best known for was the prince of's trust. _ he was best known for was the prince of's trust, the future of young people — of's trust, the future of young people and i think it will continue to he _ people and i think it will continue to be passionate about that. the environment, interfaith relations, our food — environment, interfaith relations, our food and farming communities, these _ our food and farming communities, these are _ our food and farming communities, these are all national issues that matter_ these are all national issues that matter and i think they are very relevant — matter and i think they are very relevant so i think the monarchy under_ relevant so i think the monarchy under his— relevant so i think the monarchy under his leadership will remain as relevant _ under his leadership will remain as relevant as— under his leadership will remain as relevant as ever. the

under his leadership will remain as relevant as ever.— relevant as ever. the king's immediate _ relevant as ever. the king's immediate challenge - relevant as ever. the king's immediate challenge is - relevant as ever. the king's immediate challenge is to l relevant as ever. the king's - immediate challenge is to unite his family and the nation through this period of mourning. aha, family and the nation through this period of mourning. pt, big family and the nation through this period of mourning.— family and the nation through this period of mourning. a big chair for the lancaster— period of mourning. a big chair for the lancaster and _ period of mourning. a big chair for the lancaster and the _ period of mourning. a big chair for the lancaster and the spitfires - period of mourning. a big chair forj the lancaster and the spitfires and hurricanes. ,, the lancaster and the spitfires and hurricanes-— hurricanes. queen elizabeth was a force for national _ hurricanes. queen elizabeth was a force for national unity _ hurricanes. queen elizabeth was a force for national unity and - force for national unity and coherence. herson's force for national unity and coherence. her son's longer—term challenge is to articulate values that will chime with contemporary sensibilities and concerns. and which will help them build on the powerful legacy of respect and public affection that his mother bequeaths him. alan little, bbc news. some dots there on the reign of charles iii, which started yesterday. —— some thoughts. lets join yesterday. —— some thoughts. letsjoin darren for the weather. thanks very much. we have a drier weather on the way this weekend. but all week we have had a lot of rain and also thunderstorms and today was no exception. for the past few hours

we have had a lot of shows across england and wales, you can see the lightning flashes, but the storms are becoming fewer, the showers are becoming fewer and the showers will move away and many places becoming dry overnight. but we will see the speed of cloud coming in off the north sea into some north—eastern parts of england, bringing some rain. further north, particularly in scotland with clearer skies it will be quite chilly, temperatures could be quite chilly, temperatures could be 5 or six celsius but for many remaining in double figures. a lot of rain this week because low pressure has been moving across the uk, it will be moving away this weekend, hence at drier theme. where weekend, hence at drier theme. where we still have the feed of cloud in northern england to collect the north—east, it will bring a little rain at first but the rest of england and wales are seeing sunny spells, maybe one or two showers, lighter ones than we have had recently. scotland and northern ireland look dry and probably quite sunny after some early mist and fog. temperatures once again around 19 to 22. forthe temperatures once again around 19 to 22. for the second half of the weekend, we start to see rain coming

in from the atlantic, it'lljust brush the far south—west and west wales and arrive later in northern ireland, maybe the far north—west of scotland. but for many it will be dry on sunday after some early mist and fog, there will be some sunshine at times, little or no showers really. probably a bit warmer especially in england and wales. thank you very much. there will be a full account of the day's events on bbc one at ten o'clock. now a little later than usual, wejoin our colleagues in the nations and regions for the news where you are. from all of us here for now, goodbye. welcome to our viewers in the uk and around the world for our special coverage following the death of queen elizabeth ii. this evening, king charles iii has addressed the nation and the commonwealth for the first time since the death of his mother, queen elizabeth. the king said he had been brought up to "cherish a sense of duty to others" and to uphold the country's traditions.

the king said his "darling wife" camilla would be his queen consort, and he revealed his elder son, william, would become prince of wales. he also expressed his love for harry and meghan. i speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow. throughout her life, her majesty the queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration, an example to me and to all my family. and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother, for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example. queen elizabeth's was a life well lived, a promise with destiny kept, and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. that promise of lifelong service, i renew to you all today.

alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the united kingdom, in all the countries where the queen was head of state, in the commonwealth, and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my mother as queen served the people of so many nations. in 1947, on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from cape town to the commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her people's. that was more than a promise. it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life. she made sacrifices for duty.

her dedication and devotion as sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times ofjoy and celebration and through times of sadness and loss. in her life of service, we saw that abiding love of tradition, together with that fearless embrace of progress which makes us great as nations. the affection, admiration and respect she inspired became the hallmark of her reign. and as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour and an unerring ability always to see the best in people.

i pay tribute to my mother's memory, and i honour her life of service. i know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you, and i share that sense of loss beyond measure with you all. when the queen came to the throne, britain and the world were still coping with the privations and aftermath of the second world war and still living by the conventions of earlier times. in the course of the last 70 years, we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths. the institutions of the state have changed in turn, but through all changes and challenges, our nation

and the wider family of realms, of whose talents, traditions and achievements i am so inexpressibly proud, have prospered and flourished. our values have remained and must remain constant. the role and the duties of monarchy also remain, as does the sovereign's particular relationship and responsibility towards the church of england, the church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted. in that faith and the values it inspires, i have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others and to hold on the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government.

as the queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, i too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time god grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation. and wherever you may live in the united kingdom or in the realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, i shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as i have throughout my life. my life will, of course, change as i take up my new responsibilities. it will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which i care so deeply.

but i know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others. this is also a time of change for my family. i count on the loving help of my darling wife camilla. in recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my queen consort. i know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which i have come to rely so much. as my heir, william now assumes the scottish titles which have meant so much to me. he succeeds me as duke of cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the duchy of cornwall which i have undertaken

for more than five decades. today, i am proud to create him prince of wales, tywysog cymru, the country whose title i've been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty. with catherine beside him, our new prince and princess of wales will, i know, continue to help lead our national conversations, bringing the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given. i want also to express my love for harry and meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas. in a little over a week's time, we will come together as a nation,

as a commonwealth, and, indeed, a global community, to lay my beloved mother to rest. in our sorrow, let us remember and draw strength from the light of her example. on behalf of all my family, i can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support. they mean more to me than i can ever possibly express. and to my darling mama, as you begin your last greatjourney tojoin my dear late papa, i want simply to say this. thank you. thank you for your love and devotion to our family, and to the family of nations

you have served so diligently all these years. may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. our royal correspondent daniella relphjoins me now in the studio. it was something that i think, really, everybody was leaning into, such compelling words that were coming from king charles iii, and what was your immediate reaction watching that? i what was your immediate reaction watching that?— watching that? i was quite surprised. _ watching that? i was quite surprised, to _ watching that? i was quite surprised, to be _ watching that? i was quite surprised, to be honest, l watching that? i was quite - surprised, to be honest, because i thing we were expecting this moment to be a perhaps more divisional tribute to his mother —— or traditional. it was revealing of the thinking of the new king on a number of matters. he did not avoid the rather more controversial issues, i suppose. he talked about his own role as king and recognised the limitations he would now face

compared to when he was prince of wales, saying that some of the projects, some of the charities he had previously be involved in, he could do now. he also did not avoid the thorny issue of harry and meghan. it has been a difficult issue for the whole family the last couple of years. he said he loved them and he wished them well in their work overseas, building a new life for themselves overseas, so it was really revealing on a number of fronts as well as being personal and moving at times. i fronts as well as being personal and moving at times.— moving at times. i found the word love was said _ moving at times. i found the word love was said so _ moving at times. i found the word love was said so many _ moving at times. i found the word love was said so many times, - moving at times. i found the word i love was said so many times, which perhaps we do not associate with a more traditional role of the monarch, but as we are hearing there as well, do know now that prince william will become the prince of wales, catherine the princess of wales, catherine the princess of wales, and this after charles had held the roll for 64 years. exactly, -aassin it held the roll for 64 years. exactly, passing it onto _ held the roll for 64 years. exactly, passing it onto his _ held the roll for 64 years. exactly, passing it onto his and _ held the roll for 64 years. exactly, passing it onto his and wife, - held the roll for 64 years. exactly, passing it onto his and wife, and i passing it onto his and wife, and kate and william will have a crucial

role in the reign of king charles iii. some of that work the king could no longer expected to as monarch, you could expect kate and william to pick up, the new prince and princess of wales. you can expect to see them pick up some of the work that the king, when he was prince of wales, spent so long working on. prince of wales, spent so long working on— prince of wales, spent so long workin: on. �* . ., ~' working on. and what do you think are the areas _ working on. and what do you think are the areas that _ working on. and what do you think are the areas that we _ working on. and what do you think are the areas that we will - working on. and what do you think are the areas that we will begin i working on. and what do you think are the areas that we will begin to | are the areas that we will begin to see prince william and also princess of wales, as she will be, really take over?— of wales, as she will be, really take over? ~ . ., ~ take over? we can look at the work the princes — take over? we can look at the work the princes trust _ take over? we can look at the work the princes trust has _ take over? we can look at the work the princes trust has been doing i the princes trust has been doing with young people. perhaps there we might see william pick up that kind of work with young people, people who find it very difficult to find work and a place in society, those who do not get the opportunities that others might, so much of the new king's work when he was prince of wales focused on those areas. it is already areas that catherine and william had worked on themselves,

particularly around mental health. you can see that coming in altogether and them working on that on behalf of the new king.— on behalf of the new king. daniella relh, on behalf of the new king. daniella relph. thank _ on behalf of the new king. daniella relph. thank you — on behalf of the new king. daniella relph, thank you very _ on behalf of the new king. daniella relph, thank you very much. - king charles's first official engagement today was a meeting with the new prime minister, liz truss. that happened earlier this afternoon, after king charles arrived back at buckingham palace from balmoral, with the queen consort. let me bring you some of the pictures. let's listen in. it let me bring you some of the pictures. let's listen in. it has been so tough _ pictures. let's listen in. it has been so tough this _ pictures. let's listen in. it has been so tough this afternoon. j pictures. let's listen in. it has. been so tough this afternoon. all those people coming to give their condolences. mr; those people coming to give their condolences.— —— condolences. -- condolences. you are very kind. let's go to downing street now and speak with our deputy political editor vicki young. what a week it has been. we have a new monarch and also a new prime

minister, meeting there for the first time. just how important is this relationship going to be? it is this relationship going to be? it is a really special — this relationship going to be? it 3 a really special and personal and almost magical relationship. i have spoken to some of those who have had that relationship between the monarch and the prime minister, and they value it greatly, and i think when we see those pictures there and this is obviously a completely different relationship, of course, liz truss just two days ago shift the hand of the queen as prime minister, and she told the commons today how the queen had shared some of her wisdom about her views on the world, really, and even at that late moment in her life, and then suddenly that news, and now liz truss, a new king. they will both be setting out on these new roles for them in their lives, and it will be setting out on it, in

some ways, together. what previous prime ministers have talked about the queen is of course her wisdom, her knowledge, having lived through so much, and there will be some saying, you and not get that same kind of relationship with the king, but of course, as prince charles, as the prince of wales over all those years of his life, he too has a lot of experience, he too has met many world leaders, sol of experience, he too has met many world leaders, so i think they will be certainly a certain unwisdom that he can impart to the new prime minister —— a certain amount of wisdom. just to think back on monday, we are standing here, talking about a new prime minister, and then by the end of the week, by friday, there we see those incredible pictures... and picking up incredible pictures... and picking up on something daniela was talking about there, the frankness, the raw emotion you heard from the king is maybe something we were not expecting. i think liz truss, the

prime minister, looking they're almost surprised by him really talking about what he was feeling at this moment and really try to put her at ease as they sat down to discuss so much, and that is the point here, that politics has been absolutely set aside, of course it has, over the last few hours, but there is a war in ukraine, there is an economic crisis, there is a lot to talk about on what will confront them in the coming months. thank you ve much, them in the coming months. thank you very much. vicki- _ let's go over to buckingham palace, as dusk falls. joanna gosling is there for us now. joanna, it is actuallyjust a little more than 24 hours since the news filtered through from buckingham palace that the queen had died. tell me a little bit about what you are hearing and seeing now.- hearing and seeing now. there is such a crowd _ hearing and seeing now. there is such a crowd gathered _ hearing and seeing now. there is such a crowd gathered here - hearing and seeing now. there is such a crowd gathered here and i such a crowd gathered here and throughout the day, there have been people coming and going, a steady stream of people wanting to be here,

wanting to get close to the palace in many instances, where they have been leaving flowers. there are floral tributes all along the gates at the front of the palace and there are also floral tributes around the fountain that you see just behind me as well. and people have been saying that they wanted to come here, not just to remember the queen and her 70 years of service, but also there was that moment in the daytime when the king, king charles iii, arrived and walked along the full length of the ground, across the railings at buckingham palace, and he took his time to speak to people as he walked along. some kissed his hand, one kissed his cheek. they wanted to talk about their memories of the queen and how much she meant to them and also to welcome him as the new monarch, and we heard shouts of god save the king, and there was a

rendition of the national anthem as well, so it has been a significant day here in that that was really the first direct contact between the king and his subjects, and it felt like he really took some comfort from the crowd there, because of course he is a king in mourning, and i was clearfrom course he is a king in mourning, and i was clear from the addressee made earlier, speaking of his profound sorrow at the passing of his mother, saying thank to her for the duty that she showed, talking about the destiny of service that she had delivered. he said it was a life well lived with destiny kept. he said that is what he will do as well. there been so many elements to the day for this new king, and it has been the public display, without address to the nation, the very

intimate, almost, connection with some of the people outside the palace here and of course the working king as well inside the palace, where he met the new prime minister. earlier, there was a convoy that left the palace, and some of the people who were by the gates of the palace said they had seen the king and queen consort were inside. we cannot actually confirm that, because we did not see it ourselves, but i do see someone's photograph and it doesn't look like one vehicles —— it does look like. there is some uncertainty whether the king remains in the palace behind me, because as you can see there, the royal standard remains at full mast. it went up to fullness when he arrived. it had previously been the union flag was flying over the palace at half mast, but once the palace at half mast, but once the new monarch arrived, the flag went up to full mast, so whether he

remains in the palace tonight, we don't know. but we are fairly certain of is that he will be sleeping at his residence of clarence house while the business of the monarchy will move to the palace. we don't expect him to live here immediately, at least. joanna, thank ou here immediately, at least. joanna, thank you very _ here immediately, at least. joanna, thank you very much, _ here immediately, at least. joanna, thank you very much, the _ thank you very much, the palace looking magnificent there. we wa nt we want to leave you with moments of the queen's rain. it is we want to leave you with moments of the queen's rain.— the queen's rain. it is our dearest ho -e the the queen's rain. it is our dearest hope the queen — the queen's rain. it is our dearest hope the queen will— the queen's rain. it is our dearest hope the queen will be _ the queen's rain. it is our dearest hope the queen will be happy - and that her reign shall be a glorious one and her devoted subjects can help her.

we return here to buckingham palace, where joanna we return here to buckingham palace, wherejoanna just was, we return here to buckingham palace, where joanna just was, telling we return here to buckingham palace, wherejoanna just was, telling us about people that are coming to pay their respects and also to welcome in the reign of king charles iii. in a few moments, a special programme — a tribute to her majesty the queen. she wasn't born to be queen... ..but she died as one of the most quietly influential monarchs this country has ever known.