In a heartfelt message to the nation, King Charles III expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the public during his first year as monarch.
Today marks the anniversary of the passing of his beloved mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who left a profound legacy after an unparalleled reign.
Speaking from his Scottish Highland estate of Balmoral, the 74-year-old British monarch reflected on the deep affection he holds for his late mother and her remarkable life dedicated to public service.
King Charles III also conveyed his appreciation for the love and support extended to him and his wife, Camilla, as they continued their commitment to serve the nation.
Commemorations for this solemn occasion remained low-key, with the king not scheduled for any official engagements. Instead, King Charles III and his wife, accompanied by the queen’s niece and nephew, attended the nearby Crathie Kirk, which was a place of worship for the late monarch. Here, they engaged in private prayers and a moment of reflection.
After the service, King Charles III, dressed in a traditional red tartan kilt, took the time to interact with well-wishers gathered outside the church.
Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for an astonishing 70 years, passed away on September 8, 2022, at Balmoral, at the age of 96, following a period of declining health. Floral tributes were placed at the gates of the estate to honor her memory.
During her lengthy reign, Queen Elizabeth II did not publicly celebrate her accession to the throne as it coincided with the anniversary of her father’s, King George VI, death in 1952.
In London, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery marked King Charles III’s accession by firing a 41-gun ceremonial salute in Hyde Park at 12:00 pm (1100 GMT).
Additionally, members of the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest regiment in the British Army, fired a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London at 1:00 p.m. These regiments had previously participated in salutes to mark the queen’s passing and King Charles III’s ascension.
Meanwhile, King Charles III’s eldest son and heir, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, commemorated the anniversary with a small private service at St. Davids Cathedral in west Wales. On social media, they shared a message, saying, “Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We all miss you. W & C,” accompanied by a poignant photo of the queen surrounded by her great-grandchildren.
Prince Harry, who was in the UK for a charity event on Thursday, did not have plans to meet with other family members.
He shared his sentiments at the charity event, mentioning that he couldn’t attend the awards last year due to his grandmother’s passing. He expressed the belief that she would have wanted him to be with everyone on this occasion.
Queen Elizabeth II’s passing had a profound impact on British life. For most Britons, she was the only monarch and head of state they had ever known. During the official 10-day mourning period, tens of thousands of people waited in lines for up to 25 hours to pay their respects to her flag-draped coffin as it lay in state in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament.
Even larger crowds filled the streets of London and the route to Windsor Castle for the state funeral, which was broadcast to a global audience of millions.
The late queen was laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who passed away in 2021, as well as her father and mother, and the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
The government recently announced plans to commission a national memorial in honor of the late monarch.
