King Charles pledges reign of service as FG honours Queen Elizabeth

New Britain’s monarch, King Charles III returned to London from Scotland on Friday, a day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, to pledge that he would serve the British people “with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.”

The king’s speech came just as the Nigerian Government directed all flags in the country and missions abroad be flown at half-mast in honour of the late queen.

Queen Elizabeth died on Thursday at the age of 96.

King Charles’s speeech capped a day of mourning across Britain, but it was also a vivid demonstration of continuity in this constitutional monarchy.

He met with the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, just four days after the queen anointed her at Balmoral Castle, in the last official act of her seven-decade reign.

“Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived, a promise with destiny kept,” Charles said in a televised address that was at once dignified and deeply emotional, a son’s grieving eulogy for his mother and a sovereign’s solemn oath of duty.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, announced that flags be flown at half-mast in a statement on Friday.

He said this should be happen between September 11 and September 12 to honour the late queen.

The statement read, “We commiserate with the government and the people of UK and all the affected people of the Commonwealth and the global community.

“The Queen is dead, long live the King.”

Before her death, doctors had expressed concerns over the queen’s health and advised that she be closely monitored.

Her four children were reported to have flown in immediately to “be by her side” upon receipt of the news of her health.

Her passing marks an end to a reign that lasted for 70 years, and made her the longest-serving monarch in British history.

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952.