King Charles III has released a three-minute video tribute to his mother on what would have been Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday. Photo / YouTube
Elizabeth II would have been deeply troubled by much in the modern world, King Charles has said, as he marks the 100th anniversary of her birth.
In a video message about his late mother on what would have been her centenary, he said the late Queen had always believed people could work together for a better world.
In her memory, he urged viewers to “strive together towards a ‘better, happier tomorrow’ – one rooted in peace, justice, prosperity and security”.
The tribute was designed to be a moment to “pause” and reflect on the life of Elizabeth II, who died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.
The King said of his late mother: “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.”
Buckingham Palace would not confirm which events or issues the King had in mind. The line is likely to be read as an allusion to national and international current affairs, including the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.
In a three-minute video message, in which he called the late Queen “darling mama”, the King said: “Today, as we mark what would have been my beloved mother’s 100th 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.”
Referring to a video sketch for her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the King said: “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.”
The King, wearing a tie with small zebras, filmed the message in the library at Balmoral Castle. Photographs, including one of the late Queen as a baby, can be seen on the shelves behind him.
He said: “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.
“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. God bless you, darling mama; you remain forever in our hearts and prayers.”
He began the commemorations by touring an exhibition of his late mother’s clothes, saying it “brought back memories”.
The King and Queen were at the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace to see Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition. It is the largest and most comprehensive presentation of the late Queen’s fashion and features more than 300 items.
They were joined by Lady Sarah Chatto, Dame Sarah Troughton and Tim Knox, director of the Royal Collection Trust, which is responsible for the exhibition. Pointing at the late Queen’s wartime uniform, the King joked: “You never throw anything away.”
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 admired the needlework of the late Queen’s coronation gown, saying: “The skill is extraordinary”.
On Tuesday, the royal family will gather to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth II.
They will view the design recommendations for the Queen Elizabeth Memorial at the British Museum before hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace with guests including representatives of the late Queen’s patronages and 100-year-old Britons who share her birth date.
The Princess Royal will officially open the Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regent’s Park, London.
Next week, the King and Queen will travel to the US for a state visit with US President Donald Trump, who is known to have respected the late Queen and valued her opinion.
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