Britain's new king prepared to meet with the prime minister Friday and address a nation mourning Queen Elizabeth II
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. People around the globe gathered at British embassies to pay homage to the queen, who died Thursday in Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
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. On Friday, Truss and other senior ministers are expected to attend a remembrance service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Charles, who became the monarch immediately upon his mother's death, will then be formally proclaimed king at a special ceremony Saturday.
The impact of Elizabeth's loss will be huge and unpredictable for Britain. She helped stabilize and modernize the monarchy across decades of enormous social change, but its relevance in the 21st century has often been called into question. The changing of the guard comes at a fraught moment for Britain - and just after a brand-new prime minister took the reins.
U.S. President Joe Biden called her a "stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States."
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