“Please accept my sincere congratulations on your ascension to the throne,” said a statement posted by the Russian embassy in London on Twitter. “I wish Your Majesty success, good health and all the best,” it added. Prince Charles was officially named King of Britain in a ceremony on Saturday morning. Although Charles became king immediately after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, a meeting of Britain’s Accession Council formally approved him as the country’s next monarch on Saturday morning. The historic ceremony was televised for the first time. Despite tensions over the Ukraine war and Britain/Russia relations at a low ebb, Putin also wrote to the new monarch when the Queen’s death was announced, offering “sincere sympathy” to Britain on her death. He wrote: “The most important events in the recent history of the United Kingdom are inextricably linked with Her Majesty’s name. For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as power on the world stage. “I wish you courage and perseverance in the face of this heavy, irreparable loss. I ask you to convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the members of the Royal Family and to all the people of Great Britain.” For good measure, the Kremlin also claimed the queen’s “wisdom and authority” would be missed internationally. The Russian people had “great respect” for Queen Elizabeth II, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday, singling out her qualities of “wisdom and authority.” “Such qualities are in short supply on the international stage at the moment,” he added.
