The British royal family and politicians pay tribute on Friday to Queen Elizabeth II, who died exactly one year ago. Friday is also the first anniversary of the accession to the throne by her eldest son, Charles III.
“As we celebrate the first anniversary of Her Majesty’s death and my accession to the throne, we remember with great affection her long life, dedicated service and all that she meant to so many of us. I am also deeply grateful for the love and support shown to my wife and I over the course of this year as we do our best to serve you all,” Charles III wrote in a brief statement.
The King and Queen Camilla, who are spending the summer at Balmoral Castle (where Elizabeth II died), attended a private m at a nearby church in the nearby small town of Crathie on Friday morning. In turn, the heir to the throne, Prince William, together with his wife, ss Kate, went to Wales, where they attended a m at St Davids Cathedral.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace has released a never-before-seen photo of the Queen taken in 1968, when she was 42 years old.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Keir Starmer also paid tribute to the late monarch. “In retrospect, the scale of the late Her Majesty’s service seems even greater. Her commitment to the peoples of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth seems even deeper. And our gratitude for such an extraordinary life of duty and sacrifice continues to grow,” Sunak wrote. Recalling his encounters with her, he added, “I was struck by her wisdom, her incredible warmth and grace, but also by her sharp wit.”
The Labor leader said Queen Elizabeth II “has always enjoyed a special bond with her people”. “It was a relationship built on her understanding that service to this great nation is the thread that connects the sovereign and the subjects,” emphasized Starmer.
Elizabeth II died on September 8 last year at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. She sat on the British throne for 70 years, longer than any of her predecessors.
From London Bartłomiej Niedziński (PAP)
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