King and Will cheer up queue
The new King told the crowds waiting to pay their respects to the Queen that his mother would never have expected so many people would have come.
Charles told one well-wisher: “She’d never have believed it.”
The King and Prince William appeared on an impromptu walkabout on Lambeth Bridge and were greeted by shouts of “We love you” and “God save the King”.
Yela Alvarado, clutching a Paddington Bear brought from her native Peru, wept as she met the King. “I was so emotional I couldn’t talk,” said Yela, 62.
Her sister Yoshi Bunce, an NHS nurse who lives in Epsom, Surrey, added: “Prince William saw the bear and said, ‘That’s Christmas sorted!’”
The Prince of Wales was by his father’s side at the Accession Council last weekend, with further plans for them to collaborate on major projects together.
One royal source said: “It’s no coincidence we are seeing the King and Prince of Wales are taking on these duties together. This is a blueprint for the future.”
As the pair made their way down the queue, one boy said to Aston Villa fan William, “Scrappy game last night,” after the side beat Southampton 1-0. William said: “Yes, it wasn’t the greatest.”
As Charles made his way along the queue, one fan even offered the King a pen – to the delight of the monarch, who was caught getting frustrated with a leaky fountain pen during a ceremony in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
Charles also visited a police station in south London to thank staff for their work.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex met mourners outside Buckingham Palace. Prince Edward said: “My mother would appreciate this fantastic
support.”