Charles back in London as king, to address UK at 10:30 pm

London, Sep 09: King Charles III has arrived at Buckingham Palace for the first time as Britain's monarch. He will make his inaugural address to the nation as king on television on 10:30 IST.

A large crowd cheered as the car arrived at the palace gates. He got out of the car to greet well-wishers and look at some of the huge pile of floral tributes left to honour his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Some called "Thank you Charles" and "Well done, Charlie!" as he shook hands with the crowd. Several shouted "God save the King!"

King Charles III, who spent much of his 73 years preparing for the role, takes the throne in an era of uncertainty for both his country and the monarchy itself.

In Britain and across its former colonies, the widespread admiration for Elizabeth herself was sometimes mixed with criticism of the institution and the imperial history she represented.

On the king's first full day of duties Friday, he and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, left Balmoral to head to London.

He is expected to meet Prime Minister Liz Truss, appointed just days earlier, and deliver a speech to the nation at a time when many Britons are preoccupied with an energy crisis, the soaring cost of living, the war in Ukraine and the fallout from Brexit.

Hundreds of people arrived through the night to leave flowers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, the monarch's London home, or simply to pause and reflect. Finance worker Giles Cudmore said the queen had "just been a constant through everything, everything good and bad." "She's just been the foundation of my life, the country," he said.

The country began a 10-day mourning period Friday, with bells tolling around Britain and 96-gun salutes planned in London - one for each year of the queen's long life.