In a short message on Friday, Britain’s King Charles III put the spotlight on his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s, dedication during the first anniversary of her death.
The queen, who was on the throne for a record 70 years, died on 8 September 2022 at the age of 96 at her beloved Scottish home, Balmoral, due to failing health.
AFP reports that the king and his wife, Queen Camilla, will spend the weekend at this very residence and will commemorate the late queen privately.
“In celebration of the first anniversary of her late majesty’s death and my accession, we are fondly reminded of her long life, dedication, service and all that she meant to so many of us. I am also deeply grateful for the love and support shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you,” reads his official statement.
On Friday, King Charles also released a portrait of her majesty taken by Cecil Beaton in 1968 when she was 42. In this photo, which has not been published before, the Queen wears the Grand Duchess Wladimir’s tiara, which consists of 15 interwoven diamond circles.
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.
I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during… pic.twitter.com/NfM6LDWTA0
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 7, 2023
A gun salute will be fired on Friday afternoon in Hyde Park, London, to commemorate the king’s ascension to the throne. Bells will also be rung at one o’clock in the afternoon at Westminster Abbey to mark the occasion.
Prince William and Princess Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are expected to commemorate the Queen on Friday during a special service at the St. David’s Cathedral in West Wales.
On 9 September 2022, this royal couple inherited these new honorary titles, which were previously awarded to King Charles and Princess Diana, after the Queen’s death.
Prince Harry pays tribute to Queen during award ceremony
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is also currently in the United Kingdom and on Thursday paid tribute to his grandmother during the annual awards for WellChild, a London charity for seriously ill children.
The duke has been involved in this organization for more than a decade and also spoke about his grandmother’s commitment on the occasion.
He and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were due to attend these awards on September 8, 2022, when doctors announced that they were “concerned” about Queen Elizabeth’s health. The couple consequently canceled their appearance so the Duke could travel to Scotland to see his grandmother.
Prince Harry, in his sensational memoir, Savewrote that he was unable to say goodbye to his grandmother before her death, however, due to conflicts with other senior members of the royal family.
I love the way Prince Harry remembered the first anniversary of his grandmother’s passing❤️❤️. #PrinceHarry #WellChildAwards #GoodKingHarry pic.twitter.com/UVqT6uXaWr
— Az (@Az79923807) September 7, 2023
The Duke argued in his book that he was not “invited” to greet his grandmother and consequently traveled too late to greet her.
“As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away,” he told the audience on Thursday.
“As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to join you all instead of going to her. This is exactly why I know that today, exactly one year later, tonight she is keeping an eye on all of us and is happy that we continue to put the spotlight on such an incredible organization.”
A representative of the Sussex couple has on People said the prince is expected to spend the anniversary of his grandmother’s death privately.
Sources: AFP, BBC, Sky News, People.
