King Charles III leads Britain in mourning after death of Queen Elizabeth ll

Britain now has a new monarch following the death Thursday of Queen Elizabeth ll at age 96.

Her eldest son Charles, 73, automatically assumed the throne after the Queen’s death. He will be known as King Charles lll.

He will be the head of state for the United Kingdom, Canada, and 13 other countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

There is currently no date scheduled for his coronation.

On his first full day of duties Friday, King Charles is set to return to London, meet new Prime Minister Liz Truss and deliver a speech to the nation.

Britain has begun 10 days of mourning for the loss of its longest-reigning monarch in history.

The bells at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle will toll at noon in London Friday, followed by a 96-gun salute at Hyde Park to mark each year of Queen Elizabeth’s life.