Speaking next about his mother's upcoming funeral, the King says: ""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."

In his speech King Charles III comments on his youngest son - the Duke of Sussex - and his wife.

"I express my love for Prince Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas."

King Charles says that his son William will become Prince of Wales.

"As my heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me," he says.

"He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall which I have undertaken for more than five decades.

"Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty.

"With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given."

"My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities," says the King.

"It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.

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

"This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my darling wife Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort.

"I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much."

The King is now speaking about his own reign, pledging to uphold her values.

"As the Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.

"Wherever you may live in the United Kingdom or in the realms and territories across the world and whatever maybe your background and beliefs I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life."

Reflecting on her accession in 1952, the King says: "When The Queen came to the throne, Britain and the world were still coping with the privations and aftermath of the Second World War, and still living by the conventions of earlier times.

"In the course of the last 70 years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths.

"The institutions of the State have changed in turn. But, through all changes and challenges, our nation and the wider family of Realms - of whose talents, traditions and achievements I am so inexpressibly proud - have prospered and flourished.

"Our values have remained, and must remain, constant. The role and the duties of Monarchy also remain, as does the Sovereign's particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England - the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.

"In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government."

"I pay tribute to my mother's memory and I honour her life of service," says the King.

"I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you.

"And I share that sense of loss beyond measure with you all."

King Charles III continues reflecting on his mother's service.

"In her life of service we saw that abiding love of tradition, together with that fearless embrace of progress, which make us great as Nations. The affection, admiration and respect she inspired became the hallmark of her reign.

"And, as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour and an unerring ability always to see the best in people.

"Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where The Queen was Head of State, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my Mother, as Queen, served the people of so many nations," says the King.

"In 1947, on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples.

"That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life."

She made sacrifices to duty, the King says. "Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss."

The King says. "Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing.

"That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today."

I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow, says the King.

"I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow.

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

King Charles III's first address as sovereign is now being broadcast.

You can also watch his broadcast as it goes out on the BBC by clicking on the play button at the top of this page.

Stay with us as we bring you the monarch's full address.

Image source, PA Media

A service of remembrance is about to begin at St Paul's Cathedral in London for Queen Elizabeth II.

High-profile mourners - including Prime Minister Liz Truss, opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan - have all taken their seats ahead of the start at 18:00.

Some 2,000 members of the public - many dressed in casual clothes and some carrying babies in slings - are attending the service of prayer and reflection.

The King's address will be broadcast at St Paul's.

In the next few minutes we are expecting to see and hear King Charles III make his first address to the nation.

His speech was recorded at Buckingham Palace a little earlier and will be broadcast on BBC One at 18:00.

At the same time, the service at St Paul's Cathedral will begin.

Gary O'Donoghue
Washington Correspondent

In Washington DC, the British embassy has opened its doors to allow members of the public to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. Within the first hour around two dozen people had signed the condolence books set out on tables inside the embassy - exactly where President Biden left his heartfelt message yesterday. Outside, more than a hundred bunches of flowers have been laid around a large coloured stone depiction of the Union flag. One message read: "Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth, you’ll be greatly missed. Thank you for your strength, devotion and service to your country. We love you!!"

The Queen's "long life spent in the service of this country", love for her family and commitment to duty will be honoured at the service of prayer and reflection at St Paul's Cathedral at 18:00.

Dean Designate Andrew Tremlett will give thanks for the Queen's "devotion to all her people" as he remembers her "long life spent in the service of this country and of her Commonwealth realms around the world".

Members of the Royal Family are not expected to be present at the service, which will be broadcast live by the BBC from 17:45.

Liz Truss will deliver a Bible reading from Romans 14:7-12 and other senior ministers will be attending.

Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, as Dean of the Chapels Royal, will deliver the address, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will deliver the blessing.

Image source, Reuters

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Windsor

Image source, PA Media

At Windsor Castle's Cambridge Gate, which leads onto the Long Walk, crowds have been visiting in their thousands.

Stories are being shared; memories of Her Majesty are being kept alive.

Candles are being lit and there is a mass of bouquets.

But it’s the messages on the cards which underline the depth of sorrow felt among the people here, in a town loved by the Queen.

"She represented the best of us," one says. Another simply thanks her for a "lifetime of dedication”.

The locals here are feeling a deep loss - they saw the Queen as their neighbour.

Jenny Assimnios, who greeted King Charles III with a kiss on the cheek outside Buckingham Palace, says she's very, very happy and proud to have hugged and kissed him.

The King received a warm reception as he made his way past crowds outside the palace.

Image source, Reuters

At the moment the Queen died, the throne passed immediately to the heir, Charles, the former Prince of Wales.

But what kind of King might King Charles III be?

As a prince, Charles was used to speaking out on issues but as King, he will no longer have his own passport or driving licence - or strong opinions in public. Being monarch supersedes the individual.

"I'm not that stupid. I do realise it's a separate exercise being sovereign," he said in a BBC interview in 2018.

It has been well reported that Charles would prefer a "slimmed-down" monarchy. It's likely to mean a greater emphasis on a smaller core group of working royals, with Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Catherine at its centre.

He has become a relaxed and approachable figure when he's meeting the public, getting his audience onside with a few self-deprecating jokes. As Prince of Wales he developed an affable, grandfatherly style, with no standoffishness.

And for a man in his 70s, the King shows no sign of slowing down.

Read more here on what to expect from King Charles III.

If you're just joining us, here's a recap of what's been happening so far today.

• Bells rang out at St Paul's Cathedral, Windsor and Westminster Abbey and gun salutes took place across the country to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II
• King Charles III flew from Aberdeen back to London, where he greeted crowds outside Buckingham Palace
• He's also met with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace - his first in-person audience with her

Here's what we can expect later on:

• The new King is set to address the nation at 18:00 BST
• At the same time there will be a service of remembrance for Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London
• Attendees at the service will sing the first official rendition of God Save the King. The UK's national anthem's lyrics will change from "Queen" to "King" and "her victorious" to "him victorious"

On Saturday

• Charles will officially be proclaimed King tomorrow
• Flags will return to full mast for 24 hours from 13:00 BST to mark the occasion before returning to half mast.