King Charles III addresses his nation – and the world – for the first time

    (CNN) -- King Charles III is delivering his first public address as the new British monarch, just a day after ascending to the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

His short address to the nation and the Commonwealth was filmed in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace earlier on Friday.

The King has given numerous public speeches during his time as the heir apparent, but the address on Friday was perhaps the most important of his life so far -- and he used the beginning of it to pay tribute to his mother.

Wearing a black suit and a black tie, Charles said Queen Elizabeth "made sacrifices for duty, dedication and devotion."

"In her life of service, we saw that abiding love of tradition together with that fearless embrace of progress which makes us great," the King said.

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