By Anzal Amin
& Sardar Shahab
ISLAMABAD/LONDON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday conveyed his sincere good wishes to King Charles III on his accession to the throne of the British monarchy.
“On behalf of the people and government of Pakistan, I wish to convey our sincere good wishes to His Majesty King Charles III on his accession to the throne,” he posted on his Twitter handle.
The prime minister said, “May the people of the United Kingdom continue to prosper under his benevolent reign.” The council, made up of about 200 members — primarily current and former politicians and other dignitaries — proclaimed his accession to the throne in the State Apartments of St. James’s Palace in London.
Meanwhile, King Charles called Britain’s Parliament the “living and breathing instrument of our democracy” and pledged to follow his late mother Queen Elizabeth’s example in maintaining its independence in an address to both chambers on Monday.
Charles arrived at Westminster Hall in London to a fanfare of trumpets with his wife Camilla, Queen Consort, for the address — part of a series of pageantry-filled ceremonies following the Queen’s death on Thursday at her holiday home in Balmoral, Scotland, after 70 years on the throne. After the address, the new monarch set out for Edinburgh to join his siblings for a solemn procession when the coffin of Queen Elizabeth is taken to the city’s historic cathedral.
They will then take part in a vigil at St Giles’ Cathedral, on the Scottish capital’s centuries-old Royal Mile, where the coffin will lie at rest before being flown to London on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Liz Truss — still in her first week in office — and parliamentarians from the House of Commons and the House of Lords — attended the address in Westminster Hall. The Lord speaker described the late queen as “both a leader to and servant of her people”.
Charles and Camilla sat on ceremonial chairs, with cavalry troopers in red tunics and plumed helmets standing to attention behind.
In his address, Charles said: “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. 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 assembly sang “God Save the King”.
Charles, 73, who automatically became king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea on his mother’s death, is known for expressing his views on matters ranging from the environment to youth issues. He has suggested that as king, he might have to moderate his style, in keeping with the tradition that the monarch keeps out of political matters.
