King Charles Makes First Appearance as Monarch During Return to Buckingham Palace
King Charles III has returned to Buckingham Palace as Britain's new monarch. Following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Charles, her oldest son, and his wife, Camilla, the new Queen Consort, were seen outside the palace on Friday. The sighting marked their first public appearance since Elizabeth's passing and the first since assuming their new roles. The couple, who have been married since 2005, were dressed in black as they mourned the late sovereign, observed the piles of bouquets lining the gates to the palace and spoke with members of the public that had gathered outside to pay respect. The 73-year-old new king addressed the loss of the 96-year-old queen in a statement issued on Thursday. «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,» he said.