King Charles records message on anniversary of Queen's death
Today marks a year since Queen Elizabeth II died
Last updated 8th Sep 2023
King Charles has recorded a message and release a favourite photograph of his mother to mark the first anniversary of her death.
A year ago today Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away at Balmoral Castle.
Charles, in words written and audio spoken at Balmoral Castle he recalled with “great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us”.
Friday is a year since the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who served as Queen for 70 years, died peacefully of old age at 96 just months after her Platinum Jubilee.
The formal colour photograph chosen by Charles was taken by Cecil Beaton and shows a young Queen, then 42, at an official portrait sitting in 1968.
She is standing sideways and smiling as she is photographed in her Garter robes and wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Tiara, made of 15 interlaced diamond circles.
The King, in his short tribute, thanked the nation for the love and support shown to him and Queen Camilla during his first year as monarch, and pledged their continued service.
“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.”
His written message was signed Charles R.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to attend a special service in St Davids Cathedral in St Davids, west Wales, according to reports, in memory of the Queen on an emotional day for the royal family.
"Looking down on all of us..."
The Duke of Sussex spoke fondly of his late Grandmother on the eve of the anniversary of her death.
Prince Harry attended the WellChild Awards ceremony in London on Thursday night, his first appearance in the UK since June.
In a speech at the ceremony, the Duke reflected on the events of 12 months ago when he was forced to miss the awards as he rushed to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire after his grandmother was taken ill.
He said: “As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away.
“As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that’s precisely why I know exactly one year on that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together, continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute to the late Queen, reflecting on her legacy.
“With the perspective of a year, the scale of Her Late Majesty’s service only seems greater,” he said.
“Her devotion to the nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth only seems deeper. 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 Queen and was struck by her “wisdom, by her incredible warmth and grace”, but also 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.
Former prime minister Liz Truss has spoken about her final encounter with the late Queen, describing how the “upbeat” and frail but “mentally alert” monarch told her they would be “meeting again soon”.
The Queen had welcomed Ms Truss to her home in Aberdeenshire on September 6 2022 to appoint her as prime minister.
“She was very, very keen to reassure me that we’d be meeting again soon. It was very important to her,” Ms Truss told GB News.
She added: “She was very determined to do her duty, right to the end.”
The Queen died two days later, with Ms Truss describing the scene as she waited in Downing Street when the confirmation came at around 4.30pm.
“We were in the Downing Street flat with, officials, other people. So when the news came through, it was sort of confirming all the worst fears that we’d had.”
Ms Truss said she felt very sad, but her mind also turned to the practicalities of the days to come.
“You know, part of your brain is thinking, ‘my goodness me, this is a momentous occasion. This is our Queen who’s been on the throne for 70 years, the absolute backdrop to our lives is now gone’,” she said.
“But, also, I tend to focus on the practical in those types of moments and just thinking ‘right, I need to make sure my speech is ready. I need to make sure the right people are informed’.”
She recalled the King was “very, very resolute” when she spoke to him to express her condolences on the phone the day his mother died and his reign began.
Charles has been staying at his Birkhall residence and Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire over the summer.
Gun salutes
Soldiers and horses who took part in the state funeral procession and proclamation salutes signifying the new reign are to return to perform Accession Day gun anniversary salutes in the King’s honour on Friday.
Almost all of the King’s Troop riding out – in their distinctive dress uniform of gold braided jackets and busby hats accompanied by the Band of the Grenadier Guards – played a role in the final farewell to the Queen a year ago.
A 62-gun salute will also be fired at the Tower of London by The Honourable Artillery Company – with the regiment and the King’s Troop both responsible for gun salutes following the death of the late monarch.
Bells will be rung at Westminster Abbey at 1pm in commemoration of the King’s accession.
Queen Elizabeth II - A life in pictures:
The Queen was born in 1926
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on 21 April 1926 to Their Royal Highnesses Duke and Duchess of York. Although this is her actual birthday, the Queen also celebrates her official public birthday on the second Saturday in June.
Royal sisters
In 1930 Princess Elizabeth's younger sister, Princess Margaret, was born. The two girls were educated at home rather than attending school. The family did not live at Buckingham Palace, because the Queen's father was not first in line to the throne. Instead, they resided in a town house in Piccadilly near the Ritz.
Princess Elizabeth becomes first in line to the throne
In 1936, the Queen's grandfather, King George V died, meaning his oldest son Edward, who was the Queen's uncle, would become King. However, Edward abdicated before he was even crowned, after the British government condemned his decision to marry Wallis Simpson, who had been divorced. As a result, the Queen's father Albert became King. He adopted his father's name in an attempt to restore faith in the monarchy which had been shaken by the abdication, and was crowned King George VI in 1937, making Princess Elizabeth first in line to the throne.
War time service
In 1940 at the age of 14, Princess Elizabeth made her first broadcasted speech on the radio, in which she encouraged evacuees to have hope. Five years later when she turned 19, Princess Elizabeth signed up to the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the female branch of the British Army, where she trained as a driver and mechanic.
The Royal engagement
Princess Elizabeth's engagement to Prince Philip was announced on 9 July 1946, when Princess Elizabeth was 21-years-old.
The Royal Wedding
Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip on 20 November 1947 in Westminster Abbey. It is estimated around 200 million people tuned into the radio broadcast of the marriage of the future monarch.
The young Royal family
Princess Elizabeth gave birth to Prince Charles in 1948, while Princess Anne was born two years later.
Queen Elizabeth's coronation
King George VI died on 6 February 1952, making his oldest daughter Princess Elizabeth, Queen. One year later, on 2 June 1953, the official coronation took place and Princess Elizabeth was made Queen at the age of 27. Over 20 million people tuned in to watch the coronation on the TV.
First tour of the Commonwealth as Queen
Five months after the coronation, Queen Elizabeth II embarked on her first tour of the Commonwealth as reigning monarch. Over the course of the trip, she visited 15 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Libya and Fiji.
The Queen relationships with the Prime Minister
To date, 15 Prime Ministers have served under the Queen in the UK. As Head of State, the Queen has the right to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister, however she must remain strictly neutral on political matters, and therefore does not vote in elections. When a party wins a general election, the outgoing Prime Minister offers the Queen their resignation before the incoming Prime Minister is officially invited by the Queen to form a Government in her name. The Queen meets weekly with her Prime Minister, and these meetings take place one-to-one in complete privacy.
Royal walkabout
The Queen came up with the famous Royal walkabout, which see's members of the Royal family greeting the locals who line the streets to meet them during visits. This tradition has now been passed down to the next generation of Royals.
A family of six
In 1960 Prince Andrew was born, followed by Prince Edward in 1964, completing the Queen's immediate family.
An animal lover
It is well known that the Queen is an animal lover, particularly of horses and dogs- she has owned more than 30 corgis throughout her time on the throne! Her love for horses has been passed down through the family, with Princess Anne riding in the 1976 Olympics, and her daughter, Zara Phillips, winning a Silver medal at London 2012 in the team event.
Diana's funeral
In August 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car accident in Paris. In the aftermath of her death, the Queen and the Royal family were criticized by the press and the public for their response. The Queen's refusal to lower the Royal Standard to half mast angered some of the British public. This was again due to Royal protocol; the Royal Standard only flies when the Queen is in residence at Buckingham Palace, but at the time of Diana's death the Queen was at Balmoral. The Queen broadcast a live televised statement in tribute to Diana, where she said that she "admired and respected" her former daughter-in-law. The statement was viewed as important as it was only the second time in the Queen's reign that she had delivered a special address to the public.
Meeting state dignitaries
Over the years, the Queen has met thousands of dignitaries from around the world. The Queen hosts state visits in order to help strengthen bonds and relationships with other countries. People invited to visit the Queen include Presidents, Prime Ministers and other Monarchs. State banquets are often held to welcome the visiting guest, where a member of the Royal family, often the Queen, is likely to make a speech in their honour.
Christmas message
Every year the Queen records a special Christmas message, often referred to as the Queen's speech, reflecting on the events of the past 12 months. It's a tradition that was initiated by her father in 1932 and a duty she has fulfilled every year of her reign bar one. In 1969, the Queen issued a statement instead of the usual Christmas broadcast due to concerns the Royal family had been in the spotlight too much following the documentary, entitled 'Royal Family', which had aired earlier in the year.
Diamond Wedding anniversary
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 2007. In a speech to mark their Golden Wedding celebrations in 1997, The Queen credited Philip with being her "strength and stay all these years."
Stamps and money
A portrait of the Queen features on British stamps, coins and English bank notes. The image of the Queen which features on the stamps and money has remained unchanged since 1967. Her profile faces left on postage stamps but to the right on coins. This is due to a tradition introduced by Charles II which means that the portraits on coins alternate the way they face with each Monarch. This means that when a new Monarch is coronated in Britain, their portrait will face left on coins, rather than right like Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen's honours
The Queen has the right to give titles of honour to people in public recognition of their achievements or services. The general public can nominate people they believe are worthy of an honour, and recipients receive their awards from the Queen or a member of the Royal family during special ceremonies. There are two honours lists each year, the Queen's birthday honours list and the New Year's honours list. The lists are usually composed of well known figures as well as members of the general public.
Prince Philip dies aged 99
The Queen's husband Prince Philip died on the 9th April 2021. Due to social distancing rules at the time, The Queen had to sit on her own at the funeral in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Queen described the death of the Duke of Edinburgh as leaving "a huge void" in her life.
Longest reigning Monarch
The Queen is the UK's longest reigning monarch, but is the longest reigning female monarch in world history, surpassing Queen Victoria's 63-year reign in 2015.
The Platinum Jubilee
In 2022 the Queen celebrated the Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. Long weekends, events at the palace and street parties like the one pictured from 2012 were all part of the celebrations.
The Queen at Balmoral
Queen Elizabeth II posed in the waiting room at Balmoral, Scotland where she later greeted new Prime Minister Liz Truss. The photo was taken just two days before The Queen sadly passed away.