Prince Charles has spoken about the loss of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, after news of the monarch's death was announced on Thursday evening (3.30am Friday AEST).
"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," he said in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace.
"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.
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"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 was released on behalf of "His Majesty the King" but without any indication of what name the Prince of Wales would take as monarch.
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Moments later UK Prime Minister Liz Truss gave a speech on the 96-year-old's passing just days after appointing her to office at Balmoral.
During that address outside Downing St, the PM referred to the Prince of Wales as King Charles III, ending her speech with the statement "long live the King" - something not heard in the UK for 70 years.
Clarence House later confirmed the title as announced by the prime minister.
At 73, Prince Charles has been the longest-serving heir-apparent and will be the oldest to accede to the throne in British history.
Prince Charles and wife Camilla, who will now be Queen Consort, were the first to be by the Queen's side Thursday morning after Buckingham Palace announced doctors were concerned about the 96-year-old monarch's health.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall had been in residence at their Scottish home of Birkhall on the Balmoral estate.
Not long after Princess Anne arrived at Balmoral Castle, followed a few hours later by the now heir-apparent Prince William, who drove from Aberdeen Airport with uncles Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
A statement from Buckingham Palace announcing the passing of Queen Elizabeth on Thursday afternoon (Friday morning AEST) stated the King and Queen Consort will remain in Scotland overnight before returning to London in the morning.
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