Prince Charles succeeds Queen Elizabeth as King

Following the sad death of the Queen at the age of 96 today at Balmoral, Prince Charles has now become the monarch at the age of 73 with his wife Camilla now Queen Consort

Charles is now King following the sad death of the Queen at the age of 96.

His accession to the throne came immediately following the death this afternoon at Balmoral of his mother who dedicated the last 70 years of her life to being monarch.

In a statement this evening, he said: "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.

"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.

"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."