King Charles III has made his first speech as monarch this evening, addressing the nation just one day after the death of his mother, HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty passed away at her Scottish residence Balmoral, aged 96, shortly after doctors expressed concerns for her health.
The former Prince of Wales arrived back at Buckingham Palace this afternoon, where he greeted the huge crowds who have assembled in London.
He was joined outside the royal residence during the afternoon by his wife Camilla, Queen consort.
King Charles III gave a speech this evening. Credit: BBC
This evening, a Service of Prayer and Reflection was held at St Paul’s Cathedral.
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In it, King Charles thanked the public for their condolences, praised his late mother for her service and devotion, and pledged his own lifelong service.
He also spoke of other members of the Royal Family, confirming Prince William will take on the Scottish titles, as well as the title of Duke of Cornwall.
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The King said: “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations.”
Speaking of his younger son, he added: “I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas.”
King Charles’ moving speech concluded with: “And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey, to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this. Thank you.
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“Thank you, for your love and devotion to our family, and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
King Charles III’s speech to the nation in full
I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow. Throughout her life, HM the queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother, for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example.
Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well lived, a promise that destiny kept, and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today. Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where the Queen was Head of State, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my mother as Queen served the people of so many nations.
In 1947, on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. That was more than promise. It was a profound personal commitment, which defined her whole life. She made sacrifices for duty. Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss.
In her life of service, we saw that abiding love of tradition, together with that fearless embrace of progress, which makes us great as nations.
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The affection, admiration, and respect she inspired, became the hallmark of her reign.
And as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour, and an unerring ability to see the best in people.
I pay tribute to my mother’s memory, and I honour her life of service. I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you, and I share that sense of loss beyond measure with you all.
When the Queen came to the throne, Britain and the world was still coping with the aftermath of the Second World War, and still living by the conventions of earlier time.
IN the course of the last 70 years, we have seen our society become one of many cultures, and many faiths, the institutions of the state have changed in turn, but through all changes and challenges, our nation and the wider family of realms, of whose talents, traditions and achievements I’m so inexpressively proud, have prospered and flourished. Our values have remained, and must remain, constant.
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The role and the duties of monarchy also remain, as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility toward the Church of England, the church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.
In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of Parliamentary Government.
As the Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.
“To my darling mama… I want to say simply this, thank you”
In his first national address King Charles III pays tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, saying “may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”https://t.co/4wPLzn5p8apic.twitter.com/E2nKw6muEc
And wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the realms and countries across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.
My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.
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This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my darling wife Camilla, in recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort.
I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.
As my heir, William now assumes Scottish titles which have meant to much to me. He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall, and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall, which I have undertaken for more than five decades. Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I’ve been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty.
With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground, where vital help can be given. I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas.
In a little over a week’s time, we will come together as nation, as a Commonwealth, and indeed as a global community, to lay my beloved mother to rest.
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In our sorrow, let us remember and draw strength from the light of her example.
On behalf of all my family, I can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support.
They mean more to me than I can ever possibly express.
And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey, to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this. Thank you. Thank you, for your love and devotion to our family, and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Featured image: BBC
News
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is getting a new multi-million pound ride
Thomas Melia
One of the North West’s favourite theme parks, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, is receiving a brand new, multi-million pound ride next year.
The newest addition to the massive coastal amusement park will be a giant gyro swing, and work on making it come to life in the park has already started.
Although the concept of a swinging pendulum may exist at other theme parks in the UK, Blackpool Pleasure Beach reassures thrill-seekers that this will be bigger than any other – especially in terms of height. You could say this is the new rival to ‘The Big One’.
It’s certainly big in terms of cost, as estimates have construction valued at around £8.72m.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to some phenomenal rides and they’re gaining another.Thrill seekers will be able to the Pleasure Beach’s latest ride next year. Credit: Pleasure Beach Resort
The attraction is set to hold 40 riders who, if brave enough, will face outward with their legs dangling over the edge to replicate the feeling of flying.
This new ride has been on the horizon ever since Blackpool Pleasure Beach sent a digital van to their rivals over at Thorpe Park (currently closed for maintenance), which read: “We’ll just have to come up with something else then, won’t we?”
The next closest competitor at Drayton Manor is ‘Maelstrom’, which reaches nearly 74 feet, while this gyro swing will more or less double this number, racking up to 138 feet at its highest point at a 120-degree angle. Gulp.
Suspense has been building for this new addition as eager adrenaline junkies noticed the demolition of the former Bowl-A-Drome building, with no words from the park itself – until now.
CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE, said: “We’re thrilled to confirm the addition of a Gyro Swing at Pleasure Beach Resort, with work already underway.” It doesn’t have an official name yet, but it’s been dubbed ‘Project MMXXVI’.
We're delighted to unveil Project MMXXVI, a colossal 138ft Gyro Swing coming to Pleasure Beach next year. 🐍 pic.twitter.com/xAtEKpcgv5
— Pleasure Beach Resort🎢 (@Pleasure_Beach) March 20, 2025
Thompson also stated, “We’re well known for doing things on a large scale, so becoming home to the largest Gyro Swing in the UK made complete sense.”
This isn’t the only attraction receiving all the love at Blackpool Pleasure Beach as ‘Wallace & Gromit‘s Thrill-O-Matic’ is adding some new scenes, thanks to its recent win at the BAFTAs.
Much-loved ride ‘River Caves’ is also going to be re-imagined, while the ‘Launch Pad’ – which recently finished an upgrade earlier this year – will be open in Spring.
The Gyro Swing will be opening sometime in 2026, and while the date for its grand debut might not be released, the park has spoken on its location, announcing it will be placed up in the north of the park.
How exciting!
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is constantly adding innovative rides.This new Gyro Swing will be joining the infamous ‘The Big One’.Credit: Supplied
Local Stockport school opens library in memory of ‘selfless’ and ‘truly special’ teacher
Danny Jones
A local school in Stockport has opened a brand new library in memory of a former teacher, with the learning space being named after the “life-changing” educator.
The late Danyon Robert Chesters, or simply Dan to colleagues and friends, was a secondary school educator who enjoyed a long teaching stint at Offerton High (OHS), which was formerly the site of two girls’ school and a boys’ secondary which went on to merge in 1972 and was ultimately renamed in 1983.
Since closed over a decade ago, the premises is now home to two educational facilities for students with learning disabilities and complex needs: Castle Hill High and Lisburne School. The latter officially opened last December after being built on the site of OHS’s old Woodbank Building.
Now, in an effort to both connect to the school’s history and honour the man known to so many simply as Mr Chesters, Lisburne School has now opened the new reading and study space in his name.
Credit: Lisburne School (supplied)
Unveiled earlier this month, the Lisburne Special School Library was formally dedicated as ‘The Dan Chesters Library’ on the same plot of land where he taught history for over a decade.
Writing via the ‘Do it For Dan’ charity page set up in the wake of his death and which has raised thousands for mental health causes through regular sports-based fundraisers, his husband and fellow academic, Jeff Evans, was present for a “bright and sunny afternoon” spent remembering him.
Local Liberal Democrats Lisa Smart, MP for Hazel Grove, and Stockport MBC Councillor, Dan Oliver – a previous student of Dan’s – were also in attendance as Lisburne’s Headteacher Sam Benson and several students help cut the ribbon.
Speaking on the opening, Cllr Oliver said: “Dan made such a difference to so many of us, both at school and after we left. Over the last few weeks, I’ve re-read our emails, he was always so supportive and keen to know what was going on in our lives.
“He also came to perform at a fundraising event that we organised, a sign of just how special he was and how committed he was to all of us. This library now stands in honour of Dan Chesters, on the site of the building that he taught in, as a permanent reminder of his commitment to education, his kindness, his selflessness and his brilliant smile. Thank you, Dan.”
He often organised history school trips home and abroad.‘The Dan Chesters Library Wellbeing Wall’
Structured Pathway Lead and Class Teacher, Jess Jones, told The Manc: “Here at Lisburne, we offer a specialist provision for children aged 4-11 years in Stockport. We have recently opened our new school building, providing amazing facilities to meet the diverse needs of all students.
“As part of our opening celebrations, we have created a well-being area in our Library in memory of Dan Chesters, a well-loved teacher who taught at the old Offerton High School. The aim of this space is to provide an area of reflection and emotional regulation.
“This marks the beginning of our project here in school and is something we are hoping to expand. We are looking to work collaboratively to fundraise for appropriate resources to engage and support learning, regulation and wellbeing of the full school community.”
As well as the school welcoming local support, Mr Evans himself is now exploring the latest Do it For Dan fundraising event – of which there have already been many – to help fill the library with books and other resources specifically geared towards its students.
An even bigger character than his brain.A school trip to Germany, where he also taught.Credit: Supplied
The organisation has held everything from annual charity football matches, group hikes and memorial runs in the years since his passing.
While he was an inspiration to countless kids during his days teaching in schools, helping build their self-esteem and world views as young adults, Dan Chesters sadly battled with mental health throughout his life. In 2018, he tragically decided to take his own life.
He was just 44.
Reflecting in a lengthy and emotional post on the first anniversary of his death on 2 July 2019, his partner Jeff said: “I would use this deeply painful occasion to again enlist your help for all those other Dan’s in our community who need our voice.
“Family members, friends and workmates that are suffering today, often alone, similar mental illness that plagued Dan’s life. Please do continue speaking out about mental health and thereby challenging the taboo about this increasingly common illness…
“Please do consider raising with your MP and local NHS Mental Health Trust the consistent underfunding of the NHS Mental Health Services. In doing so, you’re practically honouring Dan’s life and enhancing his legacy by helping others […] he’d love that.”
The impact he had not only on generations of secondary school students but his fellow teaching colleagues, members of the LGBTQ+ community and beyond cannot be overstated.
Fellow ex-pupil, Jake Sheppard – who not only has a PhD in history but now works for Seashell Trust in Cheadle Hulme, an organisation that also provides severe learning disability support – told us: “Every boy’s heart responds to the examples set by greater men. Mr Chesters was that greater man.
“He was the first person to prise open my own heart to the wonder of the past, the strength of responsibility truly great teachers hold, as well as to the potential goodness of humankind.
“I owe my three history degrees to his strength, wisdom, depth, courage, and kindness.”
Another former student of his and a university graduate turned Greater Manchester nurse, Sophie Williams, added: “Dan was a dedicated educator whose passion for teaching and commitment to his students left a mark on the lives of all who had the privilege of learning from him.
Credit: Supplied
“His love for his students and his profession was evident in every lesson he taught and every interaction he had. We loved him.”
“He was known for his patience, empathy, and ability to make learning engaging and meaningful. He always went above and beyond for his students (even after they had left school) to ensure that they felt valued and empowered.
“His classroom was a space where curiosity thrived, and every student was encouraged to reach their full potential.”
“He leaves behind a lasting legacy in the hearts of his students, colleagues, and everyone who knew him. His influence will continue to resonate in the lives of the countless people who were fortunate enough to know him, and his spirit will live on in the stories shared by all.”
Put simply by the Wilkinson family in a tribute along with a donation on his JustGiving page back in 2023, they described him as “a teacher who always went the extra mile.”
A well-travelled man full of wisdom.An musician, an athlete and a charitable spirit.A lifelong City fan and a loving partner.Credit: Do it For Dan (via Facebook)
Daisy Jackson -
9th September 2022 
