The British royals remembered the monarch in various regions of the country on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. While King Charles III. and his wife Queen Camilla spent the day with a private memorial in Scotland, heir to the throne William and his wife Kate were in Wales on Friday. Prince Harry was also in the country for a short trip.
Charles published a message to the British in which he found loving words for his mother. “We remember with great affection her long life, her dedicated service and all that she meant to so many of us,” he wrote. Addressing his subjects, he added: “I am also deeply grateful for the love and support shown to my wife and I over the course of this year and we are doing everything we can to serve you all.”
The palace also released a recording of the message narrated by Charles, along with a previously unpublished photo of the Queen from the 1960s. The Queen can be seen in the habit of the Order of the Garter with a tiara on her head.
Charles (74) and his wife Camilla (76) were staying at Balmoral Castle – the summer residence in Scotland where the Queen died on September 8, 2022. The couple visited the nearby Crathie Kirk church, which the deeply religious Elizabeth had often attended, for a private service. They then took a walk in the bright sunshine, shaking hands and chatting with castle staff.
William and Kate in Wales
Heir to the throne Prince William (41) and his wife Princess Kate (41) visited a church in Wales, where Kate placed a bouquet of flowers at a picture of the Queen placed in the chancel. On the short message service X, formerly Twitter, the couple posted, among other things, a photo in which Elizabeth can be seen surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Another picture shows her with Kate, William and their children Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (8) and Prince Louis (5) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
They wrote: “Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. We all miss you.” The message was signed with the initials of both W. and C. – a sign that they had written the text themselves.
Harry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor
William’s younger brother Prince Harry (38) reportedly visited St. George’s Chapel in Windsor on Friday, where the Queen was buried almost a year ago. He was seen leaving the church in photos circulating on social media.
Harry had arrived in Britain the day before for a charity event organized by the WellChild organization. There, during his speech on Thursday evening, he said, according to the British news agency PA: “Exactly a year later, I know that she is looking down on us tonight, happy that we are together (…).” The organization supports seriously ill children and their families.
Arrival in Düsseldorf
Harry arrived in Düsseldorf on Friday afternoon. He wants to open the Invictus Games there on Saturday. The international sports competition for soldiers injured in action is considered a project close to the heart of the royal, who left the inner circle of the royal family with his wife Duchess Meghan (42) a good three years ago. The couple now lives in the US state of California with their two children, Prince Archie (4) and Princess Lilibet (2). According to the organizers, Meghan wants to come over the next week.
On the anniversary of the Queen’s death and Charles’ accession to the throne, cannon shots were to be fired in London on Friday, and the bells of Westminster Abbey were also to ring.
