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CNN Live Event/Special

First Official Rendition of God save the King to be Sung at St. Paul's; World Mourns Death of Queen Elizabeth II; King Charles III to Deliver First Address as King. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired September 09, 2022 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[12:00:00]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: St Paul's Cathedral in London. Mourners gathering for a service of prayer and reflection after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the Buckingham Palace Britain's new King Charles III will soon deliver his first speech as monarch at this pivotal moment for him for the Royal Family and for a nation that is grieving.

I'm Anderson Cooper with CNN Special Coverage along with my colleague Don Lemon who is at Buckingham Palace for us, Don?

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson a day after the loss of his beloved mother King Charles is about to take a huge step in the transition from Prince and Heir to his Royal Majesty as a matter of fact, because he addresses the United Kingdom and the world.

He arrived at Buckingham Palace from Scotland that was just a few hours ago. He's greeting people gathered to pay their respects. He stopped to look at the many bouquets of flowers laid in tribute to Queen Elizabeth accompanied by his wife, the new Queen Consort, Camilla.

And just a short while ago King Charles hosted Prime Minister Liz Truss, their first formal audience since starting his reign. I'm joined now here at Buckingham Palace by my colleagues, the Royal Correspondent, Max Foster and CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour. It's so good to be here with you, which was a better occasion but we have some new information Max, I hear the first official rendition of God saved the King. We will hear it just in just a bit.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR & ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: We will. There will be a service at St. Paul's Cathedral. The King won't be going this is a moment for the nation to reflect and understand the Prime Minister will be there and senior ministers, Archbishop of Canterbury, and this will be a very somber service to remember the Queen.

The King will do his own tributes I think later on in the week what the Kings in his days, the basic procedural duties. He's arrived at Buckingham Palace, which is his new official residence. He went inside. He recorded the address to the nation which will be played out 1 pm Eastern time. We don't know what's in it is quite short. But there's a huge amount of pressure on him to get that exactly right. I think that's why it's pre-recorded. And then the service will take place after that, but he won't be attending.

LEMON: Very simply Christiane, his life has completely changed. We saw him earlier and we will hear from him soon.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes or no his life has changed in that his formal title has changed. And he takes the reins and yes, the bar has been set very high by his mother, his late mother, but he's been preparing for this call is that 70 plus years old imagine that.

He is not a sort of a young chicken like she was accidentally thrust into the monarchy. When you know, her uncle basically abandoned his constitutional duties for the love of a woman and her father became King. And then she became the Queen that we all know.

It's extraordinary to go around London today, every public space is now plastered with her picture every big billboard every siding, over tunnels over bridges. And this is quite remarkable to see every newspaper has her face.

LEMON: They have suspended advertisements today, right voluntarily. I noticed when I came in; the only thing you saw was the Queen.

AMANPOUR: Exactly and because of the electronic ability to change these things, everything all at once last night changed. And it's quite remarkable to see it and we know that little things are going to change that will make us understand like what's going to be the face on the currency will be the King, on the postage stamps.

The King I mean, you know, the post boxes, which now say ERII Elizabeth Regina II, will go to I guess, you know, Charles Rex III. I mean, it's really interesting. And we're in a real set play that has its own logic, its own choreography. And it's just extraordinary to see, for instance, some of the quotes of hers that are being highlighted.

For instance, after 9/11 she said famously, you know, grief is the price we pay for love. And that is, you know, emblazoned across one of the newspapers, others have her in her youth her crown has set to her orb. I mean looking like the Monarch of the Empire that she was then and is no longer.

LEMON: Well, we - I mean some of us were not born then. Like we don't have any of us we don't remember. I mean she was a young beautiful - young beautiful lady when she took - when she got the crown.

[12:05:00]

AMANPOUR: Remain - right Max and she was beautiful to look at even as she aged. She nothing was fake about her. There was no sort of pulling or pushing or anything like that. There was no hair dyeing, you know, and people who met her always talked about her complexion and her radiant look.

LEMON: What are you expecting to hear from the new King?

FOSTER: Well, I've just got confirmation, he has recorded the message. We'll speak about time. It's not a very long message. But he's obviously comfortable with it, which is amazing, isn't it? If you think of the pressure that he's under, he's got a sum up how the nation feels about the Queen, express how he feels, I guess he could just talk about losing a mother?

Because that's part of how we all feel, isn't it? But there's a huge duty to do that. And then it's kind of how does he define himself? And how does he recast himself as the monarch rather than the monarch in waiting?

And he's been so used to waiting for this moment, how easy it is to adjust - is it to adjust and how does he step up? Because we sort of need a Monarch we're so used to the idea, there's a monarchy, this system will, then we look to the Monarch for unity, and he has to unite people.

I just, you know, I wouldn't know how to do it? But you wonder how he's, you know, we'll speak to people afterwards, see if he manages it. It's a unique ability and skill that the Queen had, and he's stepping into very big shoes.

LEMON: From what we saw earlier, it looks like he's off to a good start.

AMANPOUR: I was going to say, Don, he went and did the walk about the Queen popularized herself early in her reign, and went to look at all the flowers and shake hands. He's practiced at this. He gets it. He knows it.

He looked very comfortable to the point that he allowed a woman subject to; you know, launch yourself around his neck and plant a kiss on his cheek.

LEMON: Without the security--

AMANPOUR: Well, exactly, which is interesting? I spoke to the Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was Prime Minister for 10 years. You know, Elizabeth was the Queen. And I also spoke to the Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry this morning.

And they both know, Charles well. And they talk about yes, it'll be different. Let's not assume that it's going to be the same, the bar is very high. But he has staked out for himself incredibly important positions that resonate with the people of this country, from climate, to urban planning, to poverty, to inter religious faith, to diversity, all those issues.

He has been the one in the Royal Family, who's worked on them through his foundation, through his, you know, and was quite roundly mocked early on when he addressed them. FOSTER: They're very close. I interviewed Prince Charles in Scotland at his home in Scotland, and we had to end it because John Kerry was coming in. And the same happened when I interviewed him, Clarence House, they speak all the time--

AMANPOUR: About climate.

FOSTER: About climate and you wonder how he's going to handle that going forward because, you know, some people would argue that climate has become a political issue. We could have an argument about that. But he will be.

AMANPOUR: He has made that very clear. There is no argument about it. It's an existential issue. And that's why he's so strong about it.

FOSTER: That's going to be the interesting thing. Does he stick with that and say, it's not a political issue, or allow people to accuse him of getting involved in politics. And the Queen would step back from that just because she would avoid that accusation--

LEMON: --being apolitical.

AMANPOUR: He would follow constitutional protocol and he will be talking out, you know--

LEMON: We want to hear from some of the folks that you talked about. I've been walking around you as yet all you have to do is look around very diverse group, as you said, just tons of people here. So we want to go now to CNN's Bianca Nobilo, outside of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Bianca hello to you! Tell us about the service that's expected to begin in the next hour?

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT: People are just taking their seats now Don. 2000 members of the British public first come first serve are going to be in there today. They queued up this morning received their wristbands and then now they're going to be part of this incredibly poignant service of prayer, remembrance and thanksgiving to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

We're expecting a lot of Victorian hymns, some orchestral and instrumental laments also speeches, I believe, from the Prime Minister as well as senior religious figures. There's also a poignant resonance to this entire Don because the Queen of course any sovereign of the United Kingdom is defender of the faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

And Queen Elizabeth II didn't just take those duties on board in an archaic responsibility sense because she felt like she had to but she was also a woman of profound and deep faith herself. In fact, even though she said very little about her personal opinions in life.

She did speak several times about the importance of faith. Back in 2000 she talked about the fact that Christ teachings and the teachings of the Bible are the framework within which she approaches her life and when she lost both her mother and another senior and her sister in the same year in 2002 she said that it is her trust in God and her faith that sustains her through the good times and the bad.

[12:10:00]

NOBILO: So that is something which you know religious people in this country and people who will be attending the service today will feel quite deeply Don.

LEMON: Bianca thank you very much. My colleagues, Max and Christiane are here with me and Anderson is in New York. And we're standing by we're going to bring you the King Charles' speech to the world as soon as that happens.

We're also standing by for the service at St. Paul's. It's all ahead along with new reaction from the people of Britain and Palace insiders mourning Queen Elizabeth and waiting to hear from their new King.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: Events are moving quickly after the death of Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace. This hour Charles III has now taken his place as the new King of England. We are standing by for his address to the world following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth.

[12:15:00]

COOPER: We're also waiting service at St. Paul's Cathedral as the mourning period for Britain's longest serving and iconic monarch is now underway. I want to go to CNN's Matthew Chance in London. Matthew you have been seeing an outpouring of love and grief for the Queen tributes to her unique place in world history. What are people there saying to you? What are you hearing?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is incredible. I mean, what a unique position in the hearts and minds of people Queen Elizabeth occupied. And so you're seeing people, young and old coming out in their thousands actually thronging the gates of Buckingham Palace and I'm a short distance from the Palace right now.

It's just over there among the mouth, which is that red tarmac to having you leads right to it. And I've spoken to a lot of people young and old. There's a bit of a distinction between the people with the older generation, shall we say, for whom the Queen has, you know, they've grown up with her. You know, she's been in every aspect of their lives for their whole lives. And so the fact that she's now gone is an enormous emotional change.

It's a little bit different for the younger generation. But I think what's striking is, is that there are still a lot of young people out there that have an enormous amount of respect for the Queen. I've got a young family here with us, just for a quick taste of that kind of opinion. So what was your name again?

GEORGINA, RESIDENT: Georgina.

CHANCE: Georgina, thank you very much. And this is Emily and Max right? Thank you so much. I know you're busy. You've got your flowers there. Emily, let me ask you, why are you? Why have you - why do you come here today?

EMILY: I came here because I'm very sad that she's gone. It's quite hard to put into words, because it's quite emotional. And I think it's going to be very different without her.

CHANCE: It will be. It will be a big change. What have you written on the card?

EMILY: I just said, thank you for ruling the country for seventy years and goodbye.

CHANCE: Pretty sweet. Thank you Emily, thank you very much. And Max what have you written on your card?

MAX: I have written dear Queen; hope you had a lovely life?

CHANCE: Oh, that's nice. So both your - both your children, Georgina, missing the Queen who's been any Monarch they've known a bit that's true for all of us, isn't it? I suppose?

GEORGINA: Yes.

CHANCE: Yes, I was going to say one of the interesting things that I'm interested in is that the succession to Charles III is automatic. You know it's one of the great legacies of Queen Elizabeth, that that's something that no one questions. It's not controversial. But it's not automatic that King Charles is going to get the same kind of place in people's attitudes as his mother is.

GEORGINA: No, and I think the problem with Prince Charles is there's so much history attached to him already. So everybody's opinions already formed. I really want him to do well. I want him to create a really positive legacy, I think as an environmentalist.

Hopefully, he will only do good. It is, again, it's just - it's such a difficult time in the world. It's difficult time for the country, everybody even before this happened, everybody was feeling quite uncertain. So I - part of me hopes that actually this might just be a chance for the whole country to get together and support him.

CHANCE: Georgina, thank you very much for those thoughts. So thank you for letting us speak to you.

GEORGINA: You're welcome.

CHANCE: Your beautiful family. Thanks very much, guys. Anderson, back to you the attitude of one young family because they come to pay their respects here at Buckingham Palace.

COOPER: Those kids were written such sweet notes. Thanks for bringing us that Matthew. Bringing here - our panel Zain Asher, Julia Chatterley and Trisha Goddard, Zain it's interesting to hear the woman's perspective, which is, I think, one we've been talking about now for the last few days, which is Charles, is a known quantity. People know his opinions on the environment on urban planning on all these issues. They didn't know Queen Elizabeth when she was in her 20s and had assumed the role and they never really came to know her opinions about many things. Is that something you think Charles can overcome?

ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: That's going to be a difficult one, because part of this job is about leaving your sort of idiosyncrasies, your opinions completely at the door. Doing well in this job is about the art of perception. It's not so much about who you are, as to how the public perceives you.

And so I think that it's going to be really interesting to see how Charles walks that line. You're right he's talked incessantly about the environment about certain issues that he's passionate about; he can no longer do that.

I also think that one of the things in terms of winning over the public is going to be about whether or not he has the common man's touch. You hear people talk about their love for the Queen, their love for Princess Diana. I don't necessarily hear if I'm perfectly honest with you people talk about Prince Charles in the same way. So I'm going to be curious to see how he wins over the public?

[12:20:00]

ASHER: Of course, he has this duty now to remain impartial. The PR element of this role is very, very important, as you know.

COOPER: And yet people grow into roles and people's perception of other people can change. And one never knows, once he takes on the mantle as King, how that begins to change people's minds?

JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT: The problem is he's been grown into this role for 73 years. That is the challenge. And I think part of it and I agree we want to see not only the stoicism, some degree of continuity, but its authenticity too.

And actually, it was quite interesting to hear what that that family and the lady said in particular about the fact that he is this strong environmentalist. And yet, we've got almost a disagreement, perhaps debate between Christiane and Max over whether he will suddenly toe the line and not have a view on this own.

When he feels so passionately about it so for me actually just listening to that it was fascinating. How do you manage to retain some degree of being human in that common touch, but also be authentic to who you are as a person and a fundamental belief on things like --?

COOPER: The alternative? I mean, Charles could have spent the last, what 70 years of his life, not having any opinions, not thinking about anything, and then frankly, be unprepared for any kind of Royal duty.

TRISHA GODDARD, FORMER BRITISH TELEVISION PRESENTER: But here's the thing, here's the thing with Charles. I don't actually believe that he will stay neutral. I don't think he can. I mean, I've met the man. I wouldn't be surprised, he just guessed, edited the voice, which is a black newspaper, which is a first it was their 40th anniversary. I think the other thing that we can't forget is it's almost what it's 25 years since the death of Princess Diana. And we have the Queen - Queen Consort. And like it or not, a lot of people feel very strongly about that. So I read that somebody said to Camilla, good luck, and she was reported to have said, I think I'm going to need it. So that's going to be interesting to see that--

COOPER: You said people feel strongly about the title of Queen Consort is not one that's familiar, certainly--

GODDARD: It is not to anybody.

COOPER: Yes.

GODDARD: But also her role and seeing her as the "Scarlet Woman" that still hasn't gone away.

CHATTERLEY: But that's also the Queen's wish.

GODDARD: Oh yes.

CHATTERLEY: I mean she was the one that said - to be seen now as the Queen Consort. So that's part of the passage of line.

COOPER: What is the Queen Consort? It's just an - it's the Queen but not exactly the Queen?

GODDARD: The second wife.

CHATTERLEY: Exactly.

COOPER: OK.

CHATTERLEY: This - exactly. First lady in translation, but I mean, this is all very new. But I do think and actually goes to the point about what we were discussing yesterday about the Queen. She's a source of pride. I think for many people, she was never even if there was criticism at certain times, Diana was a classic example.

She never embarrassed us. And I think it's tough at certain points in history to look at everybody else in the Royal Family today and say, actually, they've never had a moment where they've been a certain degree of embarrassment to a lot of embarrassment to the nation. And I think, again, that is the needle he has to thread and the balance--

(CROSSTALK)

ASHER: But you bring up a very good point. I think that the relationship that the British public, especially women have with King Charles now is a complicated one.

GODDARD: It is.

ASHER: So many people. I mean, I would love to sit here and say that the most important things that he's done has to do with A, environmentalism and B of course, the Princess trust. But I think he cannot shake that stain of what happened with Princess Diana, but he's just not going to forget it. He was not a great husband.

GODDARD: No, but here's the thing. Here's the thing, having met Camilla and anybody who has met or worked with Camilla, and you know, I'm part of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. So put my hands up. I'm a little bit involved.

I think she is going to have the common touch with people because whomever she meets with comes away saying, you know what, I completely read her wrong. She's really natural. She's got a really--

CHATTERLEY: She is charismatic.

GOODARD: She's charismatic, she's warm, and she - I think will be a really serious guidance.

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: But also when Elizabeth took the throne there were a lot of people who looked at her and said well, she'll be workman like but people will never really love her and clearly we have seen but she is both respected for her hard work and she is loved as well. So people grow into roles so it will be interesting to see.

Still ahead at - yes, he loves her. That's very important. Still ahead, as we get closer to King Charles' speech and the service at St. Paul's will give a unique personal take on Queen Elizabeth from Former Palace insider stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:25:00]

COOPER: We're back now live at Buckingham Palace looking at live pictures now. We're waiting the first global address delivered by King Charles III. He's going to speak not only as a new monarch, but also as a son, grieving the loss of his mother.

And now St Paul's mourners are headed there to the cathedral there for a service in memory of Queen Elizabeth and her 70 extraordinary and unprecedented years on the throne. You're going to see it all right here as our special coverage continues.