To commemorate the first anniversary of his mother’s passing, King Charles III has shared a heartfelt message along with a cherished photograph of Queen Elizabeth II.
In the message, the King said he recalled the late queen’s “devoted service and all she meant to so many of us”.
The selected photograph by King Charles III features a youthful Queen Elizabeth II, aged 42, during an official portrait session in 1968.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 in Balmoral Castle on September 8th last year. This sad event occurred only a few months after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, commemorating her remarkable 70-year reign.
In his brief tribute, scheduled for release this Friday, King Charles expresses his gratitude to the nation for the unwavering “love and support” extended to him and Queen Camilla during their initial year as reigning monarchs.
“In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us,” the King said.
“I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.”
The accompanying written message, which accompanies the audio recording, bears the signature “Charles R.”
In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 7, 2023
I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during… pic.twitter.com/NfM6LDWTA0
This formal and previously unreleased color photograph was captured by Cecil Beaton on the 16th of October in 1968. It portrays the late Queen in a sidelong stance, radiantly smiling in her Garter robes, adorned with the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Tiara—an exquisite piece composed of 15 intertwined diamond circles.
Throughout the summer, King Charles III has resided at both his Birkhall residence and the Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire.
In the morning of Friday, the King and Queen Camilla will attend Crathie Kirk church, located nearby, for a private memorial prayer service.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales, currently visiting west Wales, will pay tribute to the late Queen’s life with a small, intimate service at St. Davids Cathedral.
In his own message, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the scale of the late queen’s service “only seems greater” a year after her death.
“Her devotion to the nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth only seems deeper,” he said.
“And our gratitude for such an extraordinary life of duty and dedication only continues to grow.”
Mr Sunak said he treasured his memories of meeting the late queen in which he was struck by her “wisdom, her incredible warmth and grace”, as well as her “sharp wit”.
“People across the UK – whether they had the good fortune to meet Her late Majesty or not – will be reflecting today on what she meant to them and the example she set for us all,” he added.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the queues to see the late queen lying in state showed she had “always enjoyed a special bond with her people”.
“It was a relationship built from her understanding that service of this great nation is the thread that unites sovereign and subject,” he said.
“So, as we reflect on her legacy again today, let us embrace that spirit of public service as our guide towards a better future.”
In honor of the anniversary of King Charles’s ascension to the throne, cannon salutes will resound at noon on Friday, echoing through Hyde Park and the Tower of London.
Furthermore, at 13:00 BST, the bells of Westminster Abbey will chime in commemoration of this significant occasion.
Separately, the Duke of Sussex has been paying his own heartfelt tribute to the late queen, stating, “she watches over all of us.” During his speech at the WellChild Awards ceremony in London on Thursday, he shared how he had been compelled to miss last year’s event due to his journey to Balmoral after his grandmother’s sudden illness.