(LONDON) – Britain's Prince William said on Saturday that he will honor the memory of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, by working to support his father, King Charles.
"My grandmother famously said that pain is the price we pay for love," he said in a statement. "All the sadness that we will feel in the coming weeks will be a testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary queen."
"I will honor his memory by supporting my father, the king, in any way I can," he added.
Charles, 73, was officially proclaimed Britain's new monarch at a ceremony on Saturday, immediately succeeding his mother when the 96-year-old queen died on Thursday.
William, 40, who is now heir to the throne, said the queen "was by my side in my happiest moments. And she was by my side in the saddest days of my life."
"I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without 'grandma' really hits home," he said.
On Friday, Charles awarded William the title of Prince of Wales, which the current monarch previously held.
William's wife, Catherine, received the title of Princess of Wales, previously held by Charles's first wife, Diana.
