© Reuters Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla watch Britain’s Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Hall in London, Britain September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/Pool
LONDON (Reuters) – King Charles told parliament on Monday he was faithfully determined to follow the example set by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in a speech that lawmakers and peers described as “the breathing apparatus of our democracy.”
In a ceremony at Westminster Hall, the oldest building on Parliament’s estate, Charles used his speech to the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament to honor his mother and pledge to uphold the principle of constitutional government.
“At an early age, Her Majesty made a promise to herself to serve her country and its people and to uphold the precious constitutional principles at the heart of our country. She fulfilled this promise with unwavering loyalty.” Peers.
“With God’s help and your advice, she set an example of selfless action that I faithfully resolved to follow.”
“As Shakespeare said of the early Queen Elizabeth, she was ‘an example to all princes that live.'”
The Queen died at home on Thursday, amid national mourning with tens of thousands of Britons expected to pay her respects.
During the ceremony at Westminster Hall, where the Speakers of the House of Lords and Commons paid their respects to the new king, Charles paid tribute to Parliament as the “living, breathing instrument of our democracy”.
“As I stand before you today, we are reminded of the weight of history and important parliamentary traditions around us, and members of both Houses of Parliament, who have made personal commitments for the benefit of us all.”