King Charles III has told the nation and the world he will endeavour to serve "with loyalty, respect and love".

Making his first public address since his accession to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Balmoral yesterday, the King spoke of her "dedication and devotion as sovereign".

Speaking to the nation in a pre-recorded message, the King said: "I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow.

"Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration, an example to me and to all my family and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding, and example.

"Queen Elizabeth's was a life well lived, a promise with destiny kept, and she is mourned most deeply in her passing."

The King went on to tell the nation how he would seek to serve as sovereign.

"I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love as I have throughout my life," he said.

"My life will of course change. As I take up my new responsibilities it will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities, the issues for which I care so deeply.

"But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others."

Acknowledging that the death of Queen Elizabeth II is "a time of change for my family", he paid tribute to Camilla, Queen Consort, and expressed his love and affection for his sons, the Duke of Sussex, and William, the new Prince of Wales.

Looking ahead to the forthcoming funeral, he said: "In a little over a week's time, we will come together as a nation, as a Commonwealth, and indeed a global community, to lay my beloved mother to rest.

"In our sorrow let us remember and draw strength from the light of her example. On behalf of all my family, I can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support.

"They mean more to me than I can ever possibly express. And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you.

"Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years.

"May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Earlier today the 73-year-old monarch greeted crowds of well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace with Camilla, Queen Consort, after their return to London from Scotland.

Charles also held an in-person audience with his Prime Minister, Liz Truss, at the Palace.

"The keystone in the vast arch of the British state..."

At 10am tomorrow, the Accession Council is due to meet at St James's Palace in London to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign.

Following the death of 96-year-old Elizabeth yesterday, the King has declared a period of Royal Mourning which will be observed from until seven days after the Queen’s funeral.

The date for the state funeral in London has not yet been confirmed, but it widely expected to take place on Monday, September 19.

Charles will meet the Earl Marshal - the Duke of Norfolk - who is in charge of the accession and the Queen’s funeral, to approve the carefully choreographed schedule for the coming days.

In the House of Commons earlier, MPs gathered to pay their tributes to the Queen.

Praising the late monarch as "Elizabeth the Great", outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke from the backbenches of her radiance and knowledge.

Mr Johnson described the Queen as "the keystone in the vast arch of the British state".

Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, told the Commons: "The loss of our Queen robs this country of its stillest point, its greatest comfort, at precisely the time we need those things most."