Queen Elizabeth II, during her lengthy reign, chose not to publicly commemorate her accession to the throne, as the date coincided with the anniversary of her father’s, King George VI, death in 1952. Following in his mother’s footsteps, King Charles III, her son, and the current monarch, expressed his gratitude to the public for their support during his first year as king and paid tribute to the memory of Queen Elizabeth II on the anniversary of her passing.
In a brief but poignant statement, the 74-year-old British head of state reflected on the deep affection held for his mother and her lifetime of dedicated public service. He also expressed his profound gratitude for the love and support he and his wife, Camilla, have received as they fulfill their roles in service to the nation.
The commemorations on this day were intentionally understated, with King Charles, who was at his expansive Scottish Highland estate of Balmoral, not participating in any official engagements. Instead, he and Camilla, along with the queen’s niece and nephew, gathered at Crathie Kirk, the late monarch’s place of worship, for private prayers and a moment of reflection.
Dressed in a striking red tartan kilt, King Charles took the time to interact with well-wishers who had gathered outside the church following the somber ceremony.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, marked a significant milestone in British history. For the majority of Britons alive at the time, she had been the only monarch and head of state they had ever known.
During the subsequent 10-day official mourning period, tens of thousands of individuals waited for hours, some up to 25 hours, for the opportunity to pay their respects by passing by her flag-draped coffin in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament.
Even more thronged the streets of London and the route leading to Windsor Castle to witness the state funeral, which was broadcast worldwide to an audience numbering in the millions.
Queen Elizabeth’s final resting place is in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor, where she rests alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who passed away in 2021. This hallowed ground also serves as the eternal resting place for her parents and holds the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
