The lyrics of the national anthem were changed from “Queen” to “King” and “her victorious” to “hi victorious” to signal King Charles III taking over as the new monarch. It comes after crowds spontaneously sang their version of the song outside Buckingham Palace on Friday as the King arrived with Queen consort Camilla. The anthem is also expected to be sung at the Kia Oval on Saturday as the England v South Africa Third Test continues. The race was called off on Friday after the Queen’s death. No members of the Royal Family were present at the service, but an audio clip of King Charles’ first address to the nation was played in the congregation. The King said he was speaking with “feelings of deep sadness” as he told the country: “Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived, a promise kept by destiny and deeply mourned when she died. That promise of lifelong service I renew to all you today”. Remembrance for the Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral – live updates King Charles went on to say: “As the Queen herself has done with such unswerving devotion, I solemnly pledge myself now, for as long as God allows me, to uphold constitutional principles at the heart of our nation. “And wherever you live in the UK, or in the spheres and regions around the world, and whatever your background or beliefs, I will try to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life. “ Prime Minister Liz Truss and senior ministers were also in attendance along with 2,000 members of the public who collected wristbands on a first-come, first-served basis. Ms Truss, who met King Charles for a brief audience at Buckingham Palace earlier, gave a short reading from the Bible. He said: “We do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves. , we are the Lord’s”. Image: Prime Minister Liz Truss with Dr Neil Evans Congregation members began to tear up at the service as the choir sang. A woman was seen using a handkerchief to wipe her eyes as she sat in the pews at St Paul’s. The Bishop of London then gave a speech where he said the Queen had a “remarkable Christian faith” and Jesus Christ was a “source and well from which she drew deeply”. Dame Sarah Mullally continued: “If Christ was her anchor, her husband, the late Prince Philip was, in her own words, Her Majesty’s ‘strength and stay’. “However, even in the depths of her grief we once again saw her courage and instinct to put the needs of others first.” Dame Sarah also reflected on the longevity of the Queen’s reign, describing her as a “remarkable constant in the lives of millions”. Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt and Welsh Secretary Robert Buckland were all seen singing a hymn together during the service. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby gave the benediction at the end of the hour-long service. The official Prelude “In Memoriam” from For The Fallen by composer Edward Elgar was played before the 6pm service began. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:35 ‘A good life’: King Charles pays tribute to the Queen The hymns All My Hope On God Is Founded and O You Who Came From Above were sung during the event. A queue hundreds strong formed before the service, winding from St Paul’s to the tube station streets away. Many people were smartly dressed in black suits and ties, while others wore black mourning veils as they waited to be seated inside the cathedral.
