King Charles paid poignant tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on the first anniversary of her death on Friday.
Charles praised the late monarch, who was Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign, in a pre-recorded speech that was recorded and written at Balmoral Castle.
The castle, located in Scotland, was Her Late Majesty’s favorite royal residence. It is also where she died on Sept. 8, 2022.
Charles recalled “with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us.”
“In marking the first anniversary of Her Late Majesty’s death and my accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us,” the King said in his tribute.
“I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all.”
Alongside the tribute, an image of the late Queen at age 42 dressed in her Garter robes while wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Tiara was shared.
The formal color photograph, taken by Cecil Beaten in 1968, was personally selected by the King to commemorate the anniversary.
In London, a 41-gun salute will take place in Hyde Park in remembrance of the late monarch.
In another tribute on Instagram, a color photograph of the late Queen was shared Friday morning.
“In loving and everlasting memory,” the image was captioned. “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 21st April 1926 – 8th September 2022.”
King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, are not expected to make a public appearance and instead will spend the day “quietly and privately” reflecting at the Balmoral estate.
It’s been reported that the King did not invite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the Royal Family’s gathering marking one year since the Queen’s death — despite being in Europe for the Invictus Games the following day.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, whose rift with the Firm rages on, are set to touchdown in Düsseldorf, Germany just 24 hours after the royals meet in Balmoral.
But sources told The Sun that “there hasn’t been any outreach to them.”
The pair’s trip to Germany will mark their first joint European appearance since the late monarch’s funeral on Sept. 19, 2022.
