LIZ Truss said ‘God save the King’ after delivering a heartfelt tribute to Her Majesty in Parliament today.
The Commons and Lords is sitting for a special session where MPs and peers can pay tribute to the Queen.
Liz Truss led tributes to the Queen in Parliament today
MPs stand for a minute’s silence in honour of the Queen
Queen Elizabeth delivering a speech from the throne in House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament in May 2021
Dressed in black, parliamentarians are reminiscing about the incredible legacy the late Monarch left behind.
The PM said: “Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known.
“She was the rock on which modern Britain was built.”
Ms Truss hailed the “devoted” Monarch and “her words of wisdom”.
“She gave us hope that we would meet again,” the PM said.
“She gave her assent to countless pieces of legislation, and was at the heart of our national life for seven decades.”
Ms Truss described how yesterday “in an instant our lives changed forever”.
Praising the new King Charles she said: “I was grateful to speak to His Majesty last night and offer my condolences even as he mourns his sense of duty and service is clear.
“The British people, the Commonwealth and all of us in this House will support him as he takes our country forward to a new era of hope and progress.
“And in that spirit, I say God save the King.”
Also sharing warm words, Sir Keir Starmer described the Queen as someone who created a “special, personal relationship with us all”.
The Labour leader said: “That relationship was built on the attributes that defined her reign: her total commitment to service and duty, her deep devotion to the country, the Commonwealth, and the people she loved.
“In return for that, we loved her. And it is because of that great, shared love that we grieve today.”
Former PM Boris Johnson paid moving tribute to Her Majesty for “showing the world how to give, love and serve” in his first speech from the backbenches since resigning.
Fondly recalling their last meeting at Balmoral on Tuesday, he said “she was as radiant, and as knowledgeable, and as fascinated by politics as ever I can remember.”
The PM is then expected to meet King Charles some time this afternoon.
Tomorrow Parliament will open again too, with senior MPs swearing allegiance to the King.
Further tributes will made before a formal humble address to the King expressing the deep sympathy of the House then takes place.
Yesterday in Parliament MPs cried and embraced as news of Her Majesty’s death was delivered through televisions and radios across Westminster.
Last night the new PM, who was only appointed by the late monarch on Tuesday, addressed the nation in a heartfelt message.
Ms Truss was the 96-year-old Queen’s 15th and final PM of her record 70-year reign.
As the nation enters a period of mourning, the government and PM will not be able to make any major announcements for the next ten days.
Visits, press releases and new policy announcements will all be binned, like in an election period.
But Parliament might sit for an extra day or two during the mourning period so that emergency legislation on the PM’s new energy price plan can be voted through.
