King Charles releases first statement in the wake of Queen Elizabeth's death: 'The death of my beloved Mother is a moment of the greatest sadness'

• Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, so her son, Charles ascended to the throne.
• Now known as King Charles III, the monarch released his first statement as King on Thursday.

King Charles III released a statement — his first as King — in the wake of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II's, death.

"The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," King Charles wrote in a statement shared by Buckingham Palace on Twitter.

"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved mother," he continued. "I know her death will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."

King Charles III added that during the mourning period, "my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."

The King, 72, was previously known as the Prince of Wales and is the oldest person to become monarch in British history.

He became King the moment the Queen died, though he will be formally declared King after a meeting of the "Accession Council" and will have a coronation approximately a year after his mother's death.

The Queen died at 96 after reports that she was under medical supervision Thursday.

King Charles, as well as her other children and grandchildren, rushed to her Balmoral residence upon the news.

Her death was announced in a statement, which was provided to Insider, on Thursday, with the palace saying the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral.