King Charles III of England has mourned today’s passing of his mother Queen Elizabeth III as the greatest sadness, saying the family would be comforted by sustained by her decades-long reign.

“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,” King Charles said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace shortly after her mother’s death was announced.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. 

“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held,” the statement added.

Tributes have been pouring in across the world and Britain’s flag lowered to half-mast following the Queen’s passing. She was born in 1926, crowned in 1953 and reigned until her death Thursday evening at the Royal’s Balmoral estate in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was only inaugurated into office by the Queen earlier this week, has extolled the virtues of the Queen and expressed deep condolences about her passing.