In his first address to members of the UK parliament, King Charles III promised to follow his mother’s path, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in “selfless duty.”

“While very young, her late Majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional Government which lie at the heart of our nation,” the king said. “This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty, which with God’s help and your counsels I am resolved faithfully to follow.”

The new British monarch addressed the UK parliament for the first time on Monday, expressing gratitude to the MPs, world leaders, and the people for their condolence messages. The Queen Consort was present as well.

Mr Charles said the addresses “touchingly encompass what our late sovereign, my beloved mother the Queen, meant to us all.”

“As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions to which members of both Houses dedicate yourselves with such personal commitment for the betterment of us all,” he said at Westminster Hall. 

Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss and members of the House of Commons and House of Lords gathered in Westminster Hall to share their condolences on Monday.

The new king of England has now departed Westminster Hall. 

He will fly to Scotland to lead a procession in Edinburgh, in which the coffin of his mother will be moved from the palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral.