‘A brighter dawn is never far from the horizon’: The King’s moving tribute to late Queen on her 100th birthday
The King has paid a moving tribute to his ‘darling Mama’, Queen Elizabeth II, on what would have been her 100th birthday, saying: ‘God bless you… you remain forever in our hearts and prayers.’
Speaking in a video from what was once her library at Balmoral Castle – the Scottish residence she so adored and that she died in on September 8, 2022 – Charles, 77, praised the way in which the late monarch was so ‘constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served’ as she lived through a near-century of remarkable change.
But her successor also touched upon the troubled world in which we live today, one that has seen the Royal Family face testing times of its own.
In recent months, even the late Queen’s legacy has been questioned over her handling of her son, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is facing multiple investigations by police over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and earlier this year was arrested in connection with allegations of misconduct in public office.
‘Much about the times we now live in I suspect may have troubled her deeply, but I take heart from her belief that goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon,’ Charles says.
Buckingham Palace declined to speculate further on what he could have been referring to, other than that it being ‘an acknowledgement that there are many challenges and issues in the world of today that His Majesty believes may have troubled Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, internationally and nationally’.
These could include the war in Ukraine and wider conflict in the Middle East, as well as issues of community cohesion in the UK and troubles ‘even closer to home’.
Born at 2.40am on April 21, 1926, at 17 Bruton Street in London’s Mayfair, where her parents, the then Duke and Duchess of York, lived, the late monarch was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary at Buckingham Palace the following month.
The King has paid a moving tribute to his ‘darling Mama’, Queen Elizabeth II , on what would have been her 100th birthday
King Charles and his mother Elizabeth II watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London
At the time of her birth, Princess Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, was on the throne, and she was third in the line of succession, after her uncle, Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, the then Prince Albert.
In 1936 her life changed dramatically when her grandfather died and her uncle came to the throne as King Edward VIII, but, before the end of the year, decided to give up the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson.
Upon his abdication, Princess Elizabeth’s father acceded to the throne as King George VI, and she became his heir.
While it had been very much hoped that Britain’s longest-serving sovereign would enjoy her late mother’s longevity and live well into her hundreds, Queen Elizabeth sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 96.
Senior members of the Royal Family are gathering this week to lead events remembering her life and legacy, including a visit by the King and Queen to view the design recommendations for the Queen Elizabeth Memorial – a permanent national tribute to her memory – before hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the occasion.
In his video message the King says: ‘Today, as we mark what would have been my beloved mother’s one hundredth birthday, my Family and I pause to reflect on the life and loss of a Sovereign who meant so much to us all and to celebrate anew the many blessings of her memory.
‘Queen Elizabeth’s ‘promise with destiny kept’ shaped the world around her and touched the lives of countless people across our nation, the Commonwealth and beyond.
‘Her near-century was one of remarkable change and yet, through each passing decade, through every transformation, she remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served.
‘Millions will remember her for moments of national significance; many others for a fleeting personal encounter, a smile, a kind word that lifted spirits…. or for that marvellous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life.’
Acknowledging the precarious state of the world today, the King continued: ‘Much about the times we now live in I suspect may have troubled her deeply, but I take heart from her belief that goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon. For as a young Princess Elizabeth put it in her first ever public broadcast, aged just 14, we can each play our part ‘to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place’. It is a belief which I share, with all my heart.
Charles and Elizabeth stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as part of the Diamond Jubilee, marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II
Charles touched upon the troubled world in which we live today, one that has seen the Royal Family face testing times of its own, including the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal
‘So young or old, and whatever our differences, let us therefore seek to follow this example as we make today not the marking of a milestone felt by absence but the celebration of a life well-lived, and a legacy of hope, as we strive together towards a ‘better, happier tomorrow’ – one rooted in peace, justice, prosperity and security. In this, I renew my own solemn pledge of duty and service to you all. ‘
He ended, touchingly: ‘God bless you, darling Mama; you remain forever in our hearts and prayers.’
It comes as the Cabinet Office confirmed new details of the permanent memorial in central London which will include statues of Queen Elizabeth in her Garter Robes and her late husband, Prince Philip, dressed in naval uniform.
Elizabeth will reside overlooking The Mall at Marlborough Gate, close to Buckingham Palace. She will be sculpted by Matin Jennings, who plans to depict her in an early stage of her reign using the famous Petro Annigoni painting for inspiration.
He will also create the depiction of Philip, the longest-serving consort in British history, at a similar age.
The memorial will also feature a new cast-glass bridge inspired by Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which the late Queen wore on her wedding day in a garden dedicated to the Commonwealth, which she saw as one of the most important legacies of her reign.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘As our longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II devoted her life to public service. The nation will commemorate her extraordinary reign with a memorial that offers a place of reflection for generations to come. ‘
A new UK-wide charity, The Queen Elizabeth Trust, has also been established to honour her lifetime of public service, providing funding and support to restore and sustain public spaces such as community centres and green spaces.
It is being started with a £40 million one-off endowment from the government and will be followed by public fundraising.
Born at 2.40am on April 21, 1926, at 17 Bruton Street in London’s Mayfair, where her parents, the then Duke and Duchess of York, lived, the late monarch was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2018 at The Mall on June 9, 2018
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, leaving Westminster Abbey after their wedding ceremony
A new The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial will also digitalise court circular records and bring them to life, alongside other archive material dedicated to her reign, which members of the public will be able to contribute to.
Last night the King and Queen also visited a new exhibition at the King’s Gallery dedicated to her sense of style, featuring 300 outfits and accessories worn by Queen Elizabeth, more than half of which have never been shown in public before.
The King said the exhibition of his late mother’s clothes on the eve of the centenary of her birth ‘brought back memories’.
As he viewed the new exhibition at the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace devoted to Queen Elizabeth’s fashion, Charles, 77, smiled wistfully at the memories it evoked.
He pointed at the late monarch’s riding clothes and then, amused by an old black and white picture, beckoned his relative, Lady Sarah Chatto, Queen Elizabeth’s niece, over for a closer look.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition, the largest and most comprehensive presentation of the late Queen’s fashion featuring more than 300 items, many on display for the first time.
Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, were welcomed by shouts of support from well wishers and tourists gathered outside with one saying ‘We’re from Bronx, New York.’ Another shouted: ‘Camilla, you’re my favourite’.
Inside they were joined by Lady Chatto, Queen’s Companion, Dame Sarah Troughton, and Tim Knox, director of the charity Royal Collection Trust, which is responsible for the exhibition.
In memory of the late Queen, two of her former ladies in waiting, Lady Sarah Hussey and Dame Annabelle Whitehead, were also invited to view the exhibition.
King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a fashion exhibition honouring Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening
Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, were welcomed by shouts of support from well wishers and tourists gathered outside
King Charles III pictured with Caroline de Guitaut, the exhibition curator, at the Royal Collection Trust
Camilla seemed thrilled to see items from the late Queen’s childhood, pointing to a pair of well-preserved ballet shoes. In the Nash Gallery, she went on to admire the needlework of the late Queen’s coronation gown, saying: ‘The skill is extraordinary’.
Pointing at the late Queen’s wartime uniform, the King joked: ‘You never throw anything away.’
Speaking afterwards, Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the exhibition who had given Their Majesties the tour, said they were there ‘To look at the evolution of her style, through the different pieces on display, and also, obviously, there were many pieces that brought back memories.’
She said: ‘I think the sense of preservation, which, of course, began with Princess Elizabeth’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, understanding that these pieces were very important, and should be kept, and should be carefully preserved, that really was something that His Majesty remarked upon and the condition of everything being so pristine, and I explained about some of the conservation treatments that we have undertaken, which, of course, is a subject that His Majesty is very interested in.’
The King and Queen met contemporary fashion designers Erdem and Christopher Kane, who both have an outfit on display in the exhibition which was inspired by the late Queen’s fashion.
Charles and Camilla also spent time talking to Edith Miller, 22, a needlework student currently on a course at Highgrove through the King’s Foundation.
She said that she has told the King that she worked on the embroidery of his anointment screen for his Coronation ‘and he gave me a little thumbs up.’
