“It is with deep sadness and immense sorrow that I learnt of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. At this time of mourning and grief, I offer Your Majesty and the entire royal family, as well as all the British people, on behalf of the Portuguese people and on my own behalf, I offer my sincere condolences for the loss suffered", Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said in a message posted on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, which he had already sent to the new King.

According to the Head of State, Elizabeth II "will remain an example to all of courage, dedication, stability and an unwavering sense of public service, as she was throughout her more than 96 years of life and 70 years of reign", the message reads.

"For Portugal and for all Portuguese people, the visits that Queen Elizabeth II made to our country in 1957 and 1985 will remain in the memory of each of us with unquestionable affection and appreciation. For me personally, I will not be able to forget the honour of meeting her when I travelled to London in 2016," he added.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declares himself "confident in the historic and unbreakable bonds of friendship that unite and will continue to unite Portugal and the United Kingdom, I renew my most heartfelt and sincere condolences" and wishes all the best to King Charles expressing the "highest esteem and personal consideration".

Speaking to RTP, moments after the news of Queen Elizabeth II's death broke, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that "no one in the 20th century has had such a rich experience", stressing that the monarch had lived through World War II, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world "after the collapse of the Soviet Union and this world of multilateralism crisis".

To the new king, the Portuguese President also wished his reign "to be as happy as that of his mother" and guaranteed that he will attend the funeral ceremonies.