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KING'S SHOCK
KING Charles told a well-wisher that he "didn't expect" his mother to die as he greeted crowds outside Clarence House.
The new monarch made the admission after an impromptu stop to meet members of the public outside Clarence House this afternoon.
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In a heart-to heart with mourner Rabena Din, Charles told her: "These things happen and you don't expect it. I didn't expect it."
Rabena, 52, from Manchester, said she was shocked that the new King shared the intimate detail with her.
She told The Sun: "I was surprised he was so candid with me.
"I told him I was sorry for his loss and to please accept my condolences.
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"He said 'that's very kind of you'.
"And then he stopped and looked at me and said although he knows these things happen he didn't expect it to."
The King and Queen were greeted by well-wishers as they returned to their official London residence after Charles held audiences at Buckingham Palace.
The King's Rolls Royce made an impromptu stop on Stable Yard, off The Mall, after they left the royal palace, which saw the King get out of the car to meet the adoring crowd.
Cheers and applause rang out as Charles and Camilla shook hands and accepted bouquets of flowers from people who had waited for hours.
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Shouts of "God save the King" were heard along with a chorus of the national anthem.
The new monarch's historic visit this afternoon coincided with a touching reunification of the 'fab four' outside Windsor Castle.
In a show of unity after years of speculated rifts, Prince William and Prince Harry arrived in the same car along with wives Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton to speak with mourners.
As he shared his grief with the crowd, the Duke of Sussex revealed "it's a lonely place up there now without her."
It comes as...
- Charles was today officially proclaimed King in a historic ceremony
- The Queen's funeral date was confirmed
- Prince William released a heart-warming tribute to his "grannie"
- Royals including Princess Eugenie were brought to tears as they looked at tributes left to the Queen in Scotland
- Meghan and Harry joined William and Kate to speak with mourners at Windsor
- The Duchess of Sussex hugged one young woman who gave her condolences
Charles was formally proclaimed King today in a historic ceremony of the Accession Council.
After the new monarch arrived near Buckingham Palace, Charles and Camilla spent five-minutes shaking hands with well-wishers outside his royal home.
Billy Monckton and his family, who travelled from Crawley, West Sussex, spoke with Camilla.
She shook hands with his children Jacob, five, Joshua, seven, and two-year-old Freya.
He said: "We congratulated her and she asked where we were from.
"She said she was from where we were. She's so lovely."
Camilla and Charles made the effort to speak to people - it was overwhelming but worth the wait
Bethany Monckton
Alex Dellipiani was celebrating her 16th birthday when she met the Queen Consort.
Alex said: "She asked, 'How old are you?' I said, '16' and she said, 'You're very lucky'.
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"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"We have been standing here so long and it was amazing."
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