welcome to bbc news, with continuing coverage reflecting on the life and death of her majesty queen elizabeth. loyalty and love: king charles iii pledges to respectfully serve the people, after his own tribute to the late queen. to my darling mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late papa, i want simply to say this — thank you. as the throne passes from mother to son, those who got to know the queen well share their memories. these were not meetings with a high and mighty monarch, but a conversation with a woman

of experience and knowledge and immense wisdom. i was talking to someone with extraordinary knowledge, experience, history. i used to look forward to it. gunshots and gun salutes are fired in royal parks, castles and across the world. each round represents a year in the life of the queen. welcome. a period of national mourning for her majesty queen elizabeth ii has now started,

led by her successor king charles iii. earlier on friday the new king arrived at buckingham palace after travelling from balmoral in scotland where the queen died on thursday at the age of 96. in his first address to the people as monarch, charles fought to contain his emotion as he thanked his late mother for her decades of service. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports on the day's events. from buckingham palace, an address to the nation by britain's new king. it began with a tribute to his mother, the late queen elizabeth. throughout her life, her majesty the queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration and 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. the principles of constitutional monarchy would be followed. 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. my life will, of course, change, as i take up my new responsibilities. it will no longer be possible for me to give up so much of my time and energies for the charity and issues

for which i care so deeply. he would rely on the support of his wife as queen consort. 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. his eldest son william has a new title. today, i am proud to create him prince of wales, tywysog cymru, the country whose title i have 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 inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground, where vital help can be given. there was an expression of love for the sussexes. i want also to express my love for harry and meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas. and finally, there was a moving message to his mother. and to my darling mama, as you begin your last great journey 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. earlier, the king had been flown down to london from balmoral where, yesterday afternoon, he'd been at his mother's bedside. of the royal limousines flying the sovereign�*s standard. they headed straight to central london and buckingham palace. a large crowd had gathered outside the palace. the king left his car and went along the line, shaking hands. some of those who were there had come with flowers.

here and at the other royal residences. and then, the king made his way into buckingham palace — for nearly 200 years, the headquarters of the british monarchy — to begin work. your majesty, the prime minister. thank you. there was an audience with the prime minister, one newcomer greeting another — a head of state one day into his role meeting a head of government with three days experience of hers. it's a moment i've been dreading, as i know a lot of people have. "a moment i've been dreading," said charles. a chance now to discuss how best to reassure a nation gunshot. of queen elizabeth's life, fired in london... gunshot. ..and at edinburgh castle... gunshot.

..cardiff castle... gunshot. ..at hillsborough castle near belfast... gunshot. ..in gibraltar, and several other locations. the queen's immediate family have been sharing reminiscences, recorded for a bbc documentary. i mean, she was always there and i could talk to her about this, that or the other. and that's always been something i think that — well, it will be very difficult not to have, if you know what i mean. good evening, mr bond. the queen's participation in the spoofjames bond film shown at the opening of the london olympics was recalled by the earl of wessex. i thought it was an extraordinary moment because it just showed that fantastic twinkle and sense of humour, and the fact that my mother

kept that completely to herself and the team that were there and didn't tell anybody was just brilliant. bells were rung at westminster abbey and at other churches across the country. and at st paul's cathedral this evening, a special service of prayer and reflection. # god save our gracious king...# britain looks to the future with a new king, while it mourns a much—loved queen. nicholas witchell, bbc news. at westminster, members of parliament and peers assembled to pay their tributes to her majesty the queen. the prime minister liz truss described her as �*the rock on which modern britain was built�*. the leader of the opposition sir keir starmer said the loss of the queen had robbed the nation of its greatest comfort. our deputy political editor

vicki young reports. political arguments silenced, divisions put to one side, as mps gathered to honour their queen and share personal memories. hear, hear! liz truss spoke of her shock. just three days ago, she'd shaken the queen's hand, becoming her 15th and last prime minister. she generously shared with me her deep experience of government, even in those last days. everyone who met her will remember the moment. they will speak of it for the rest of their lives. quoting the poet philip larkin, the labour leader said the queen's death was a moment of uncertainty for the nation. the loss of our queen robs this country of its stillest point, its greatest comfort, at precisely the time we need those things most. former prime ministers recalled their weekly audience with the queen. these were not meetings

with a high and mighty monarch but a conversation with a woman of experience and knowledge and immense wisdom. they were also the one meeting i went to which i knew would not be briefed out to the media. laughter. knowledgeable and as fascinated by politics as ever i can remember, and as wise in her advice as anyone i know, if not wiser. others remembered the queen's kindness. harriet harman had been sacked as a cabinet minister in 1998. 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. when tony blair won his landslide victory, the queen reminded him that winston churchill had been herfirst prime minister. i was talking to someone with extraordinary knowledge, experience, history. i 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 reign of king charles which began on thursday is expected to be true to the constitutional path followed by queen elizabeth. although charles�* views on some issues of public debate have been clearly expressed in the past, he comes to the throne

at the age of 73 after serving a record period as prince of wales. our special correspondent allan little assesses charles�*s life and work so far, and the challenges ahead as monarch. fanfare 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. newsreel: her royal highness the princess elizabeth, - duchess of edinburgh, was safely delivered of a prince at 9:14pm. thatjourney began in 1948, when the country was recovering from a devastating war. the monarchy had come to symbolise the nation's wartime sacrifice and resilience. will you, 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 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 and faith and truth i will bear unto thee... he was invested as prince of wales at 21. hejoined the raf, learned to fly, and commanded a coastal minehunter in the royal navy. here is the stuff of which fairy tales are made. when he married lady diana spencer in 1981, it seemed the perfect match. of the marriage. did you try to be faithful and honourable to your wife yes, absolutely.

and you were? yes. until it became irretrievably broken down. of his life, camilla shand. but in just eight years, and climate change.

his outspokenness drew criticism that he was to political neutrality. the queen reigned for so long that she came to embody a certain conception of britain itself. we looked at her and saw a set of values that lay 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. as monarch, he'll have to step away from that. chuckles. i'm not that stupid. i do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign.

but there is a counterargument — that it's his engagement with the most pressing issues of our day that will place his reign at the heart of national life, renewing and reinvigorating the monarchy. first thing he was probably best known for was the prince's trust, which was the future of young people, and i think he'll continue to be passionate about that. the environment, interfaith relations, our food and farming communities — these are all national issues that matter and i think they're very relevant, so i think the monarchy under his leadership will remain as relevant as ever. the king's immediate challenge is to unite his family and the nation through this period of mourning. a big cheerfor the lancaster and the spitfires and the hurricanes. queen elizabeth was a 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 him build on the powerful legacy of respect and public affection that his mother bequeaths him. allan little, bbc news.

just some of the long—term challenges for the new king. in terms of the short term, there is a lot that will be happening this weekend. with me is our news correspondent simonjones. you've been looking into it. big events later on on saturday. king charles is officially the king but he will be proclaimed the king? haw be proclaimed the king? how does this work? _ be proclaimed the king? how does this work? this - be proclaimed the king? firm does this work? this will be a special meeting and ceremony because as you say, charles officially became king the moment the queen died but there's still a formal process to go through and that will happen this morning. as a meeting of something the session council, but is largely made up of all editions past and present —— a session council. it will be tendered —— attended today by camilla the queen consort and prince william the heir to the throne

and what happens at this meeting is the charles' formally declared to be king. he then chairs the meeting is a formal declaration of stjames, formal declaration of st james, colours formal declaration of stjames, colours that will be accompanied by trumpeters and a gun salute to nearby parks here in london. after that happens at 10am, there a proclamation thatis at 10am, there a proclamation that is then made in the city of london at 11am and then have similar declarations made tomorrow in northern ireland, wales and scotland. for the first time today, this is all going to be televised so people will be able to tune in and see it and will be able to tune in and see itandi will be able to tune in and see it and i think that reflects on the part of charles and his advisors, desire for people to see actually what is happening, to see the process and to see what he is doing in the first phase of his time as the new monarch. 50 phase of his time as the new monarch-— phase of his time as the new monarch. , , ., , monarch. so very historically, then, monarch. so very historically, then. and _ monarch. so very historically, then, and i'm _ monarch. so very historically, then, and i'm sure _ monarch. so very historically, then, and i'm sure it - monarch. so very historically, then, and i'm sure it will- monarch. so very historically, then, and i'm sure it will be l then, and i'm sure it will be much interest to see that at the first opportunity so that, meeting, then, another meeting

in parliament. what will happen then? �* ., in parliament. what will happen then? ., , , in parliament. what will happen then? ., , _ then? another busy day in parliament _ then? another busy day in parliament and _ then? another busy day in parliament and very - then? another busy day in l parliament and very unusual then? another busy day in - parliament and very unusual for parliament and very unusual for parliament to sit on a but this reflects the fact that so many politicians both mps and peers in the house of lords want to express their condolences, their thoughts about the death of the queen. there was actually a session yesterday which went on for ten hours and the speaker at the house of commons said hundred and 80 politicians managed to make their feelings heard, politicians managed to make theirfeelings heard, to give theirfeelings heard, to give their tributes during that session so we will see something similar today in parliament and very unusual for this to be a saturday but after that, parliament will wait for the next ten days or so as we await the funeral of the queen so in many ways, politics put to one side so the period of mourning can continue. those are events _ mourning can continue. those are events in _ mourning can continue. those are events in the _ mourning can continue. those are events in the uk - mourning can continue. those are events in the uk but - are events in the uk but elsewhere in the world of course so much interest in the queen and the commonwealth as well. ~ . �* , queen and the commonwealth as well. ~ . �*, . ,, queen and the commonwealth as wellr . �*, . ,, �* queen and the commonwealth as well. ~ . �*, ~ ., well. what's happening? a lot happening _ well. what's happening? a lot happening around _ well. what's happening? a lot happening around the - well. what's happening? a lot happening around the world . well. what's happening? a lot i happening around the world with tributes pouring in from tributes pouring in from tributes from many countries

and now in canada we've seen the prime ministerjustin trudeau sign a book of condolence and were talking about those proclamations that are happening here in london today, is going to be a similar eventin today, is going to be a similar event in canada this afternoon and then in australia, we have had the prime minister there laying a wreath, but was actually laid at a statue of the queen that she unveiled when she visited australia back in 1988. you get a sense here of how much this has been felt around the world and how this period of mourning here in the uk is also being reflect particularly in those countries that had a very close link to the queen in their history. yes, the international community very much wanting to pay their respects. simon, thank you very much talking us through the next few hours and days, a lot going on and a lot of history being made, simon, thank you for the time here, simonjones there my colleague. when the queen came to the throne in 1952, britain's role in the world was changing rapidly. former colonies were gaining independence as the british empire evolved into the commonwealth,

and the seven decades of the queen's reign saw even greater change. in a moment, we'll hear from yogita limaye in delhi and nada tawfik injamaica. first, anne soy reports from kenya, the country princess elizabeth was visiting when she received news of her father's death and her accession at the age of 25. newsreel: the royalvisitors stepped off into the hot - sunshine of nairobi. february 1952. the then princess elizabeth came to kenya to represent her ailing father. unknown to her, it was here that she would become queen after his unexpected death. and from her car, the princess took many feet of film... they stayed at a secluded treehouse that once stood here. the hunters that accompanied her said for the first time in history of the world,

a young girl climbed into a tree one day a princess and claimed out from the tree the next day a queen. —— into a tree one day a princess and climbed down from the tree the next day a queen. she took the reins at a time of great change in africa. colonies gained independence and became republics. as head of the commonwealth, the queen reached out and helped bring them into the fold. she made bold moves. time, ghana's president nkrumah. it stirred controversy in britain, but she proved to be a leader ahead of her time. now, king charles will lead the commonwealth. african nations with no historic links to the uk are choosing tojoin. but this is a continent that is changing fast, and preserving his mother's legacy will not be without its challenges. a royal welcome on the first of three visits to india.

in 1961, the queen was in the early years of her reign iam very i am very grateful to the citizens of delhi. and india was a young republic still enamoured by her. crowds gathered everywhere she went. as india turned 50, queen elizabeth sought to address some of the dark chapters of colonial history. at this public park, unarmed indians were shot dead by british soldiers a century ago. the royal couple paid tributes, but stopped short of an apology. 75 years since independence, india is trying to move away from its past, and its links with the british royal family have become less significant. it is a complicated relationship because of the nature of colonial rule but what we have seen here today is most people looking beyond the institution that the queen represented to the person that she was. and a deep sense of respect has

been reflected in the tributes. lovely to see you again. great to see you again. indian prime minister modi recalled his meetings with her. "she personified dignity and decency in public life," he wrote. a day of mourning will be held on sunday. newsreel: a warm welcome to her majesty the queen - and the duke of edinburgh... a young queen elizabeth injamaica on herfirst royal visit. back in 1953, crowds were eager to catch a glimpse of the new monarch. the queen, it's said, had a deep affection for the island, and would go on to visit a further five times. reflecting on her life and service, officials here called her a portrait of dignity. jamaica is observing a period of mourning and flags are flying at half—mast but there is a generational divide. while some olderjamaicans have shed a tear and expressed sadness, others, especially the youth, don't feel that same close connection. to them, the royal family has not properly atoned for britain's historic role

in slavery and colonisation by way of a formal apology or reparations. nostalgia for the past is not a road many are interested in travelling. the duke and duchess of cambridge tried to emulate the queen's 1953 visit, riding the very same land rover in march. it drew attention only to how much jamaica had changed. the prime minister bluntly told the couple the country would move to become a republic, something four other islands in the caribbean have already done. for now, though, the focus here is on paying respect to the queen and the new monarch. on saturday, the jamaican defence forces will carry out a 21—gun salute to celebrate king charles iii. the queen's popularity crossed generations. schools around the united kingdom have been learning about the monarch and her reign. our midlands correspondent navtej johal has been speaking to young people in leicester about their views on the queen.

our queen, queen elizabeth ii, she died yesterday afternoon... there was only one subject on much of the nation's mind today. and in soar valley college in leicester, young people were discussing the monarch who has defined the country she led for 70 years and what comes next. does anyone have any questions about this? yes? will the money currency change? what surprised you most in the last 2a hours? these year 11 students all spoke of their respect for the late monarch, but had different views on the monarchy. i feel like she related to us because when she was our age, she was doing the war efforts with the people of her age. i feel like she was one of us, even though we might have seen her as a greater person. she seemed like a very kind and caring person. in the photos, she's always waving at kids, going up to kids. i still believe the monarchy is still important in our- society because they can still help in many ways, i like helping with organisations

throughout the world. - they help to represent our country. _ i think the whole role should be given to the prime minister instead because they are allowed to get involved and make decisions on behalf of the people. in terms of abiding images and memories of the queen, who here thinks of her having tea with paddington? yeah, definitely. definitely unexpected. nearby, at rushey mead academy, teenagers shared their thoughts on the queen. personally, for me and my family, it would be at christmastime, when we watch her broadcasted message on tv in the afternoon and itjust, you know, it really gives you that christmas spirit and togetherness because it's really personal. and you watched that every year? every year on christmas day. as a female leader, that she was queen for such a long time, i definitely think that, as a girl, she was a really big role model. it's incredibly sad - that the queen has passed and i feel great respect. for her and all she's done for this country, as leader of the country and leaderl of the church. does anybody here believe that the monarchy is not

relevant any more? i think it is relevant for a lot of the older generation but not necessarily the younger generation because a lot of us are out of touch with what is going on within the monarchy. so is she a fashion icon? yeah. among these young people, there are questions about their support for the monarchy�*s future, but there is unquestionably admiration for the late monarch. navtej johal, bbc news, leicester. we saw some of those young people paying their respects in that report. lots and lots of interest in the international papers as well. with me is our reporter mark lobel. what are they saying in terms of what we are witnessing? tributes from near and far. let's have a look at these and where they are featuring the

queen let's have a look at these and where they are featuring the queen before, let's have a look at these and where they are featuring the queen before, now let's have a look at these and where they are featuring the queen before, now king let's have a look at these and where they are featuring the queen before, now king charles iii is featuring prominently on the front of pages from germany and france, to hong kong and austria. interesting showing the changing of the guard at the changing of the guard at the top of the royalty, but that prominent photo as well of the king and queen consort. here in the uk, if i show you the back page of this wraparound for the times, a very well framed photo of the king and queen consort entering buckingham palace at the top there, and the first major quote from king charles iii, his pledge in full which i will read to you, it is worth reflecting on. "wherever you may live in the united kingdom or in the realms and territory across the world and whatever may be your background and beliefs, i shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love". serve you with loyalty, respect and love'-_ and love". and i think that sums un — and love". and i think that sums up much _ and love". and i think that sums up much of- and love". and i think that sums up much of the - and love". and i think that. sums up much of the pledge and love". and i think that- sums up much of the pledge made in that historic address, the first address by king charles

iii, watched by millions both in the uk and