Crowds hail King Charles

King Charles III greeted crowds singing "God Save the King" outside Buckingham Palace yesterday before making his inaugural address to Britain and the Commonwealth after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The smiling 73-year-old shook hands and accepted flowers from well-wishers after returning to London from Scotland at the start of his reign. One kissed his hand, another kissed his cheek, and some sang the national anthem, adapted to a new monarch following the passing of the 96-year-old Elizabeth.

Charles was set to make his first televised address as king at 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) before being formally proclaimed king to the public at 11:00 am this morning.