UK Marks First Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Passing
On Friday UK Marks First Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Passing, King Charles III expressed his gratitude to the public for their support during his first year as monarch and paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on the anniversary of her passing.
In a brief statement, the 74-year-old British head of state remembered his mother’s remarkable life and dedicated public service. He also acknowledged the outpouring of love and support he and his wife, Camilla, have received during their first year of reign.
Commemorations on UK Marks First Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Passing were subdued, with King Charles, who is at his expansive Scottish Highland estate of Balmoral, not participating in any official engagements.
He and Camilla, along with the queen’s niece and nephew, attended Crathie Kirk, the late monarch’s place of worship near Balmoral, for private prayers and a moment of reflection. Following the event, King Charles, dressed in a red tartan kilt, spoke with well-wishers gathered outside the church.
Queen Elizabeth II, who held the throne for an unprecedented 70 years, passed away on September 8, 2022, at Balmoral at the age of 96, after a period of declining health. On Friday, flowers were left at the estate’s gates in remembrance.
Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II did not publicly mark her own accession day, as it coincided with the anniversary of her father King George VI’s death in 1952.
In London, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery marked Charles’s accession by firing a 41-gun ceremonial salute in Hyde Park at 12:00 pm (1100 GMT). The Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest regiment in the British Army, fired a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London at 1:00 pm. These regiments had previously fired gun salutes to commemorate the queen’s passing and Charles’s ascension to the throne.
Prince William, the king’s eldest son and heir, along with his wife, Catherine, commemorated the anniversary with a small private service at St David’s Cathedral in west Wales. They shared a heartfelt message on social media, stating, “Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We all miss you. W & C,” accompanied by a photo of the queen surrounded by her great-grandchildren.
Prince Harry, William’s younger brother, who was in the UK for a charity event on Thursday, was not expected to meet with other members of the royal family. He spoke at the charity event, expressing his belief that his grandmother would have wanted him to attend the event.
Queen Elizabeth II’s passing was a momentous event in British history. 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 for up to 25 hours to pay their respects as her flag-draped coffin lay in state in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament.
Even more thronged the streets of London and the route to Windsor Castle for the state funeral, which was broadcast worldwide to millions of viewers. The queen was interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, her parents, and the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
Earlier this week, the government announced plans to commission a national memorial in her honor.
In London on Thursday, opinions on King Charles’s first year were mixed. Some believed he had been right not to rush into sweeping reforms. Joanne Hughes, 61, said, “He’s got a hard act to follow, but I think he will bring change.”
However, others expressed indifference toward the new king and the monarchy in general. Nursing student Mimi Jaffer-Clarke commented, “The monarchy is fading. If he wants to revive it, he needs to try to connect with the younger generation, and so far, we just don’t see that happening.” For more news updates visit thedailycourierng