King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort visited Scottish Parliament, where His Majesty made a vow to follow Queen Elizabeth II’s vowes to “always serve.”
His Majesty was greeted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. After a moment of silence across Parliament, Sturgeon began a motion of condolence and was first to pay her respects to Her Late Majesty The Queen. She noted it is a time of profound sorrow across the country.
In a speech to Presiding Officer, First Minister, Party Leaders, and Members of the Scottish Parliament, the King said of his late mother: “I know that the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland share with me a profound sense of grief at the death of my beloved mother. Through all the years of her reign, The Queen, like so many generations of our family before her, found in the hills of this land, and in the hearts of its people, a haven and a home.
“My mother felt, as I do, the greatest admiration for the Scottish people, for their magnificent achievements and their indomitable spirit. And it was the greatest comfort for her to know, in turn, the true affection in which she was held. The knowledge of that deep and abiding bond must be to us a solace as we mourn the end of a life of incomparable service.”
The King then went on to paraphrase the words of Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns as a way to describe The Queen: “The friend of man, the friend of truth; The friend of age, and guide of youth: Few hearts likeĀ hers, with virtue warmād.“
His Majesty would note how The Queen was very young when she took on the pledge to serve her country and people while maintaining the principles of constitutional government. Charles said it was a most “faithfully fulfilled” promise, hoping to follow the inspiring example with God’s help.
Formerly the Duke of Rothesay, the title, along with Charles’ former Scottish titles, were officially passed on to Charles’ eldest son and future king, Prince William, during the speech.
